Ulani
Hawaiian name meaning "gorgeous, beautiful girl"
Name Census estimates that about 599 living Americans carry the first name Ulani. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Ulani today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ulani births was 2023 (80 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ulani. 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
599
~ 1 in 572,211 Americans
Peak year
2023
80 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,550
Tracked since 1998
Popularity
Ulani: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ulani 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 302 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
Ulani 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 Ulani during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Ulanis live
The SSA's state-level files cover 8 states and territories. Texas, California, Georgia recorded the most babies named Ulani, while South Carolina, Ohio, Arizona recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 17 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Ulani
The name Ulani has its origins in the Polynesian languages, specifically the Hawaiian language. It is believed to have emerged in the ancient Polynesian culture around the 5th century CE. The name is derived from the Hawaiian word "ulana," which means "to weave" or "to braid." This connection suggests that the name may have been associated with the art of weaving or the skillful intertwining of materials.
Historically, the name Ulani held significance in Hawaiian culture, where weaving was an essential craft for creating everything from clothing to baskets and mats. The skilled weavers who practiced this art were highly respected within their communities. As a result, the name Ulani may have been bestowed upon individuals who excelled in this craft or had a close connection to it.
The earliest known record of the name Ulani can be traced back to the 16th century, when it appeared in ancient Hawaiian chants and oral traditions. These chants often celebrated the beauty and importance of weaving, and the name Ulani was likely associated with these poetic expressions.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Ulani. One of the earliest recorded examples is Ulani, a skilled weaver who lived in the late 16th century on the island of Maui. Her exceptional weaving talents were celebrated in local folklore and traditional stories.
Another prominent figure was Ulani Kalama (1826-1900), a Hawaiian chiefess and landowner from the island of Oahu. She was known for her leadership and her role in preserving Hawaiian cultural traditions during a time of significant change and Western influence.
In the 20th century, Ulani Noa (1905-1997) was a renowned Hawaiian educator and advocate for the preservation of the Hawaiian language and culture. She dedicated her life to teaching and promoting the importance of Hawaiian traditions, including weaving and other traditional arts.
Ulani Akaua (1933-2022) was a celebrated Hawaiian singer and dancer who played a significant role in reviving and popularizing traditional Hawaiian music and hula. Her performances and recordings helped to keep these cultural expressions alive and introduced them to new generations.
Ulani Kanaiopalani (born 1980) is a contemporary Hawaiian artist and weaver who has gained recognition for her exceptional skill in traditional Hawaiian weaving techniques. Her work has been featured in numerous exhibitions, celebrating the enduring legacy of this ancient craft.
Throughout its history, the name Ulani has maintained a strong connection to the rich cultural heritage of the Hawaiian people, particularly the art of weaving. It serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving and honoring traditional crafts and the skilled artisans who have kept these practices alive across generations.
People
Ulani + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ulani as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with U
Other first names starting with U with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ulani: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ulani?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 599 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ulani 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 572,211 US residents.
Is Ulani a common name?
We classify Ulani as "Very Rare". It ranks above 86.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 604 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ulani most popular?
The single biggest year for Ulani was 2023, when 80 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ulani is about 10 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ulani a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ulani 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.