Khelani
A feminine name of Indian origin meaning "playful" or "stylish".
Name Census estimates that about 758 living Americans carry the first name Khelani. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Khelani today is around 5 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Khelani births was 2021 (119 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Khelani. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Khelani with official rankings and popularity over time.
People living today
758
~ 1 in 452,183 Americans
Peak year
2021
119 babies that year
Average age
5
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,158
Tracked since 2016
Popularity
Khelani: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Khelani from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 507 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Khelani by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Khelani during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Khelanis live
The SSA's state-level files cover 14 states and territories. Texas, Florida, Georgia recorded the most babies named Khelani, while Virginia, Tennessee, New Jersey recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 26 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Khelani
The name Khelani is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit language, with roots tracing back to ancient India. Its earliest known usage dates back to the 6th century BCE, when it was mentioned in the ancient Hindu texts known as the Vedas.
In Sanskrit, the name Khelani is derived from the word "khela," which means "play" or "sport." This suggests that the name may have been given to children born into families associated with sports, games, or other forms of entertainment. Alternatively, it could have been a reference to the playful or joyful nature of the child.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Khelani was a renowned Sanskrit scholar and poet who lived in the 5th century CE. His works were widely celebrated for their poetic beauty and profound insights into the human condition.
During the medieval period, the name Khelani gained popularity among various ruling dynasties in India. One notable figure was Khelani Devi, a princess from the Rajput clan who lived in the 12th century. She was known for her courage and leadership during times of conflict.
In the 16th century, a Mughal courtier named Khelani Khan was highly respected for his diplomatic skills and played a crucial role in maintaining peace between the Mughal Empire and its neighboring kingdoms.
As time passed, the name Khelani spread beyond the Indian subcontinent, carried by traders, scholars, and travelers. In the 18th century, a Persian poet named Khelani Shirazi gained recognition for his lyrical compositions, which often explored themes of love and spirituality.
Another notable individual was Khelani Begum, a 19th-century Indian social reformer who campaigned tirelessly for women's rights and education. Her efforts paved the way for significant advancements in the status of women in her region.
While the name Khelani may have ancient roots, its enduring legacy continues to inspire individuals worldwide, reflecting a rich tapestry of cultural heritage and personal identity.
People
Khelani + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Khelani as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Khelani: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Khelani?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 758 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Khelani going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 452,183 US residents.
Is Khelani a common name?
We classify Khelani as "Very Rare". It ranks above 88.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 763 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Khelani most popular?
The single biggest year for Khelani was 2021, when 119 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Khelani is about 5 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Khelani in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Khelani a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Khelani in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Khelani still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Khelani in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Khelani can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Khelani?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.