Liani
Feminine form of Hebrew name Elijah, meaning "my God is Yahweh".
Name Census estimates that about 863 living Americans carry the first name Liani. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Liani today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Liani births was 2007 (57 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Liani. 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.
People living today
863
~ 1 in 397,166 Americans
Peak year
2007
57 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2024 SSA rank
#3,348
Tracked since 1985
Popularity
Liani: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Liani from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 315 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Liani remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Liani 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 Liani during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Lianis live
The SSA's state-level files cover 7 states and territories. California, Texas, Florida recorded the most babies named Liani, while New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 31 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Liani
The name Liani is a variant of the name Liana, which has its origins in various European languages. It is derived from the Latin word "liana," meaning a woody vine or climber. This name was likely initially used as a descriptive term for someone who lived near or was associated with these types of plants.
In ancient Greek mythology, there is a reference to a nymph named Liana who was said to be the protector of vines and vineyards. This connection to nature and fertility may have contributed to the name's popularity in the region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Liani can be found in Italian records from the 16th century. A notable figure from this era was Liani Bonaccorsi (1555-1621), an Italian painter known for her religious works and portraits.
In the 18th century, the name gained popularity in France, where it was often spelled as "Lianne." During this period, Lianne de Pouget (1718-1792) was a French noblewoman and courtier who served as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Marie Antoinette.
As the name spread across Europe, it took on various spellings and variations, including Liani. In the 19th century, Liani Kurzrock (1848-1912) was a German actress and opera singer who performed in various theaters across Europe.
In the 20th century, the name Liani became more widely used, with notable figures such as Liani Reyn (1920-2002), an American actress and singer who appeared in several Broadway productions and films.
Another famous bearer of the name was Liani Wyn Gruffudd (1935-2005), a Welsh actress and writer who was known for her work in both English and Welsh-language productions.
People
Liani + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Liani as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Liani: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Liani?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 863 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Liani 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 397,166 US residents.
Is Liani a common name?
We classify Liani as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 872 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Liani most popular?
The single biggest year for Liani was 2007, when 57 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Liani is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Liani a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Liani 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.
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.