Zalani
A feminine name of Zulu origin meaning "tranquil spirit".
Name Census estimates that about 170 living Americans carry the first name Zalani. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Zalani today is around 4 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zalani births was 2024 (49 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zalani. 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
170
~ 1 in 2,016,202 Americans
Peak year
2024
49 babies that year
Average age
4
years old
2024 SSA rank
#3,260
Tracked since 2017
Popularity
Zalani: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Zalani 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 149 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
Zalani 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 Zalani during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Zalanis live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina recorded the most babies named Zalani, while South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 8 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Zalani
The name Zalani has its origins in the ancient Sumerian civilization, one of the earliest known civilizations in Mesopotamia, dating back to around 3500 BCE. The name is derived from the Sumerian words "zal" meaning "life" and "ani" meaning "water," signifying the importance of water as the source of life in this early agricultural society.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Zalani can be found in cuneiform inscriptions from the city of Uruk, where it was used as a personal name for both men and women. Zalani was also mentioned in various Sumerian literary works and religious texts, indicating its widespread use among the Sumerian people.
During the Akkadian Empire, which ruled over Mesopotamia from around 2350 BCE to 2150 BCE, the name Zalani was adopted and used by the Akkadian people. This cultural exchange and assimilation of names were common during this period, as different civilizations intermingled and influenced one another.
In the later Babylonian period, around 1800 BCE, the name Zalani appeared in several administrative records and legal documents. This suggests that individuals bearing this name held positions of importance or were involved in legal proceedings during this time.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Zalani. One such figure was Zalani of Uruk, a high priestess who lived in the 3rd millennium BCE and played a significant role in the religious and cultural life of the city. Another was Zalani of Lagash, a celebrated poet and scribe who lived in the 22nd century BCE and wrote numerous literary works that have been preserved on clay tablets.
In the 19th century BCE, during the Old Babylonian period, there was a prince named Zalani who ruled over the city-state of Nippur. Historical records indicate that he was a skilled military leader and played a crucial role in defending his city against invading forces.
Moving forward in time, the name Zalani was also used in ancient Egypt. One notable individual was Zalani, a high-ranking official and scribe who served under the pharaoh Ramesses II in the 13th century BCE. His name was inscribed on several monuments and temples, attesting to his importance in the Egyptian court.
During the Hellenistic period, around the 3rd century BCE, there was a Greek scholar and philosopher named Zalani who lived in Alexandria. He was known for his contributions to the study of mathematics and astronomy, and his works were widely read and influential in the ancient world.
These examples illustrate the rich and diverse history of the name Zalani, which has been used across various cultures and civilizations throughout the centuries. While its origins can be traced back to the ancient Sumerian people, the name has transcended its original context and has been embraced by different societies, reflecting the interconnectedness of human cultures and the enduring legacy of names.
People
Zalani + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zalani as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Z
Other first names starting with Z with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Zalani: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zalani?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 170 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zalani 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 2,016,202 US residents.
Is Zalani a common name?
We classify Zalani as "Very Rare". It ranks above 72% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 171 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zalani most popular?
The single biggest year for Zalani was 2024, when 49 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zalani is about 4 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Zalani a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zalani 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.