Elani
Elani was the 844th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 322 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,847 places. More babies were named Elani in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin not documented
Say it eh-LAH-nee /ɛˈlɑni/
- Rank in 2025
- #844 girls, up 479 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 322girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2025322 babies
- Total since 1880
- 2,485babies recorded
What does the name Elani mean?
Elani is a modern girls' name with no documented origin. Wiktionary has no entry for it. A short Wikipedia page says it means "light" and "pacesetter" and is a variant of Eleanor, but it cites no source, and Eleanor itself is of uncertain origin; we do not repeat those meanings as facts. It resembles names such as Leilani and Alani, but no source documents a link.
How sure is this? Not documented. No documented origin; the meanings found online are unsupported.
Other explanations you may read: means 'light' or 'pacesetter'; a form of Eleanor.
Sources for this meaning
- Wikipedia, 'Elani', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Eleanor', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- US Social Security Administration, national baby-name data 1880-2025 (usage history only), US Social Security Administration
Elani popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #844 | 322 |
| 2020 | #1,323 | 167 |
| 2010 | #3,053 | 55 |
| 2000 | #4,445 | 27 |
| 1990 | #13,600 | 5 |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Elani, counting every spelling?
Elani is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #618 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #844 for Elani on its own. Together these spellings went to 475 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elani | 322 | #844 | 1,177 |
| Elanie | 54 | #3,041 | 218 |
| Ellanie | 24 | #5,289 | 128 |
| Elany | 34 | #4,203 | 123 |
| Ellani | 12 | #8,507 | 84 |
| Elanni | 9 | #10,323 | 35 |
| Ellany | 6 | #13,700 | 26 |
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 Elani?
322 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Elani (0.09 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Elani 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 26 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Elani.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Elani?
About 2,500 people born in the US named Elani are alive today, with a median age of 6; half are between 3 and 13. That makes Elani 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.
Elani by state
How common Elani was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Louisiana (2.7×), Georgia (2.1×), Illinois (1.9×), Texas (1.8×), North Carolina (1.6×). 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 Elani: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Elani, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Elani · Sibling names for Elani
Questions about the name Elani
How popular is the name Elani?
Elani was the 844th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 322 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,847 places. More babies were named Elani in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Elani a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Elani in the US.
Where is Elani most popular?
In 2021–2025, Elani was most common in Louisiana (0.39 per 1,000 girls), followed by Georgia and Illinois.