Makani
Hawaiian name meaning "wind" or "breeze".
Name Census estimates that about 485 living Americans carry the first name Makani. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 72.6% of registrations being male. The average person named Makani today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Makani births was 2022 (51 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Makani. 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
485
~ 1 in 706,710 Americans
Peak year
2022
51 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2024 SSA rank
#4,801
Tracked since 1996
Gender
Gender distribution for Makani
Makani is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 489 total registrations, 355 (72.6%) were male and 134 (27.4%) were female.
Makani as a male name
- Ranked #4,801 in 2024
- 21 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2022 (27 births)
Makani as a female name
- Ranked #8,727 in 2024
- 12 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2022 (24 births)
Popularity
Makani: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Makani from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 180 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
Makani 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 Makani during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Makanis live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, Hawaii, Florida recorded the most babies named Makani, while Florida, Hawaii, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 18 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Makani
The name Makani originates from the Hawaiian language, with its roots dating back to the ancient Polynesian cultures of the Pacific Islands. In Hawaiian, "makani" refers to the wind or breeze, reflecting the natural beauty and power of the island environment.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Makani can be found in traditional Hawaiian chants and legends, where it was often associated with deities or personifications of the wind. These chants celebrated the vital role of the wind in sustaining life on the islands and its significance in Hawaiian mythology.
Throughout history, the name Makani has been borne by notable individuals from the Hawaiian Islands. One such figure was Makani Kauhaihao, a renowned Hawaiian navigator and explorer who lived in the 18th century. His voyages across the Pacific Ocean helped maintain cultural connections between the islands and contributed to the preservation of traditional navigational knowledge.
Another historical figure with the name Makani was Makani Kahele, a Hawaiian poet and storyteller from the 19th century. Her works played a crucial role in preserving and passing down the rich oral traditions and cultural heritage of the Hawaiian people to future generations.
In the realm of Hawaiian music, Makani Pili was a celebrated composer and singer in the early 20th century. Her compositions, imbued with the spirit of the islands, became beloved classics and continue to be cherished by Hawaiian musicians and audiences alike.
Beyond the Hawaiian Islands, the name Makani has also gained recognition in other parts of the world. Makani Themba was a South African activist and leader in the anti-apartheid movement during the late 20th century. Her unwavering dedication to the fight for human rights and racial equality left a lasting impact on the struggle for justice in South Africa.
Another notable figure with the name Makani was Makani Kai, a renowned Polynesian artist and master carver from New Zealand. His intricate woodcarvings and sculptures celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the Polynesian peoples and showcased the exceptional craftsmanship that has been passed down through generations.
These are just a few examples of the diverse individuals who have carried the name Makani throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human culture and experience.
People
Makani + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Makani as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Makani: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Makani?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 485 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Makani 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 706,710 US residents.
Is Makani a common name?
We classify Makani as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 489 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Makani most popular?
The single biggest year for Makani was 2022, when 51 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Makani is about 12 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Makani a male name?
Yes, 72.6% of people registered as Makani in the SSA data are male. 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.