Delani
Delani was the 1469th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 146 babies. Its best year was 2024, when it ranked 1371st with 166 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,931 places. More babies were named Delani in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Delaney) Origin uncertain · Norman French, Irish
- Rank in 2025
- #1,469 girls, up 954 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 146girls
- Girls and boys
- 94% girls, 6% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2024166 babies
- Total since 1880
- 2,140babies recorded
What does the name Delani mean?
Delani is a spelling of Delaney, pronounced the same way, so it shares Delaney's meaning and origin.
Delaney has two separate origins, Wiktionary and Wikipedia explain. As a Norman surname it comes from a French place name, del aunaie, 'from the alder grove'. In Ireland it is the English form of Ó Dubhshláine, which Wiktionary analyses as dubh, 'black', and slán, 'challenge' or 'defiance'. Wikipedia notes it was used as a given name for both boys and girls in the American South by the 1850s.
aunaie (Old French, “alder grove”)dubh (Irish, “black, dark”)slán (Irish, “challenge (per Wiktionary)”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Norman French 'alder grove' and Irish Ó Dubhshláine are separate sources.
Related names: Delany, Laney, Delanie.
See also: Irish names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Delaney', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Delaney (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Delani popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,469 | #9,939 | 146 | 7 |
| 2020 | #2,423 | #9,812 | 72 | 7 |
| 2010 | #3,639 | — | 43 | — |
| 2000 | #3,290 | — | 41 | — |
| 1990 | #11,765 | — | 6 | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Delani, counting every spelling?
Delani is a spelling of Delaney, a name family that ranked #222 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,469 for Delani on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,565 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaney | 1,283 | #242 | 6,424 |
| Delani | 146 | #1,469 | 689 |
| Delanie | 120 | #1,705 | 600 |
| Delanee | 9 | #10,296 | 33 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Delani?
146 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Delani (0.04 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Delani born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 57 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Delani.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Delani?
About 2,100 people born in the US named Delani are alive today, with a median age of 10; half are between 4 and 21. That makes Delani a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Delani by state
How common Delani was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Louisiana (3.2×), Georgia (3.0×), Illinois (1.8×). In 30 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Delani: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Delani, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Delani
What does Delani mean?
The origin of Delaney is uncertain: Norman French 'alder grove' and Irish Ó Dubhshláine are separate sources.
How popular is the name Delani?
Delani was the 1469th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 146 babies. Its best year was 2024, when it ranked 1371st with 166 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,931 places. More babies were named Delani in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Delani a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 94% girls, 6% boys given the name Delani in the US.
Where is Delani most popular?
In 2021–2025, Delani was most common in Louisiana (0.27 per 1,000 girls), followed by Georgia and Illinois.