Naelani
Hawaiian name meaning "beautiful from the heavens" or "heavenly beauty".
Name Census estimates that about 266 living Americans carry the first name Naelani. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Naelani today is around 7 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Naelani births was 2022 (36 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Naelani. 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
266
~ 1 in 1,288,550 Americans
Peak year
2022
36 babies that year
Average age
7
years old
2024 SSA rank
#4,524
Tracked since 2007
Popularity
Naelani: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Naelani from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 148 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
Naelani 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 Naelani during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Naelanis live
Origin
Meaning and history of Naelani
The given name Naelani is of Hawaiian origin and is believed to have been in use since the early 19th century on the Hawaiian Islands. The name is derived from the Hawaiian words "nae" meaning "soft, gentle" and "lani" meaning "heaven, sky, royalty". Thus, the name Naelani can be interpreted to mean "soft heavens" or "gentle royalty".
While the name Naelani does not appear to have any direct references in ancient Hawaiian texts or religious scriptures, its component words "nae" and "lani" have been used in various Hawaiian chants, songs, and legends. The earliest recorded usage of the name Naelani can be traced back to the late 1800s, when it was given to children born into Hawaiian families.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Naelani was Naelani Kaaloa, a Hawaiian woman born in 1885 on the island of Oahu. She was a respected elder and storyteller in her community, passing down traditional Hawaiian knowledge and legends to younger generations.
Another notable figure with the name Naelani was Naelani Keawe, born in 1910 on the island of Hawaii. She was a skilled hula dancer and teacher, dedicated to preserving and promoting the traditional Hawaiian art form. Naelani Keawe played a significant role in the Hawaiian cultural renaissance of the mid-20th century.
In the realm of Hawaiian music, Naelani Makua, born in 1935, was a renowned singer and composer. She was known for her powerful voice and her ability to capture the essence of Hawaiian mele (songs) in her performances. Naelani Makua's contributions to the preservation of Hawaiian music earned her numerous accolades throughout her career.
Moving into the literary sphere, Naelani Jennings, born in 1945, was a celebrated Hawaiian author and poet. Her works explored themes of Hawaiian identity, culture, and the natural beauty of the islands. Naelani Jennings' writings helped to raise awareness and appreciation for Hawaiian literature both within and outside the Hawaiian community.
Lastly, Naelani Kai, born in 1970, is a contemporary Hawaiian artist and activist. Her vibrant paintings and murals celebrate Hawaiian culture, history, and the importance of environmental conservation. Naelani Kai has been recognized for her efforts in promoting cultural awareness and sustainable practices in Hawaii.
People
Naelani + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Naelani as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Naelani: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Naelani?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 266 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Naelani 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 1,288,550 US residents.
Is Naelani a common name?
We classify Naelani as "Very Rare". It ranks above 77.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 268 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Naelani most popular?
The single biggest year for Naelani was 2022, when 36 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Naelani is about 7 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 Naelani in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Naelani a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Naelani 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 Naelani still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Naelani 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 Naelani 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 are named Naelani?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.