Lailani
Lailani was the 1070th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 227 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 999 places. More babies were named Lailani in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Leilani) heavenly lei; royal child · Hawaiian
- Rank in 2025
- #1,070 girls, up 150 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 227girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2025227 babies
- Total since 1880
- 2,629babies recorded
What does the name Lailani mean?
Lailani is a spelling of Leilani, pronounced the same way, so it shares Leilani's meaning and origin.
Leilani is a Hawaiian name made from lei, a garland of flowers or leaves (also used figuratively for a beloved child), and lani, 'sky, heaven', which also meant 'royal' or a high chief. Wiktionary therefore reads it as 'heavenly lei' or 'royal child'. It became widely known on the mainland through the 1930s song 'Sweet Leilani', which Bing Crosby made famous.
lei (Hawaiian, “garland; beloved child”)lani (Hawaiian, “sky, heaven; royal, high chief”)
How sure is this? Probable. The element meanings come from Wiktionary's Hawaiian entries, which cite Pukui & Elbert; a direct check of the Hawaiian Dictionary is still needed.
Related names: Lailani, Leilany, Kaylani, Alani, Lani.
See also: Hawaiian names, names that mean king or queen, names that mean sky, star, moon or sun.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Leilani', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wiktionary, entry 'lani', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wiktionary, entry 'lei', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Sweet Leilani', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Lailani popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,070 | 227 |
| 2020 | #1,220 | 188 |
| 2010 | #2,662 | 68 |
| 2000 | #7,391 | 14 |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1980 | #11,258 | 5 |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Lailani, counting every spelling?
Lailani is a spelling of Leilani, a name family that ranked #48 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,070 for Lailani on its own. Together these spellings went to 4,945 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leilani | 3,792 | #60 | 18,072 |
| Leilany | 407 | #696 | 1,936 |
| Laylani | 353 | #769 | 1,453 |
| Lailani | 227 | #1,070 | 925 |
| Leilanie | 41 | #3,683 | 197 |
| Leilanni | 35 | #4,129 | 197 |
| Laelani | 18 | #6,451 | 100 |
| Leilanny | 14 | #7,708 | 82 |
| Laylanie | 14 | #7,706 | 76 |
| Lailany | 12 | #8,632 | 50 |
| Laylanni | 6 | #14,169 | 49 |
| Lailanni | 6 | #14,147 | 34 |
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 Lailani?
227 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Lailani (0.06 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Lailani 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 37 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Lailani.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Lailani?
About 2,600 people born in the US named Lailani are alive today, with a median age of 8; half are between 4 and 15. That makes Lailani 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.
Lailani by state
How common Lailani was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Georgia (2.5×), Louisiana (2.4×), North Carolina (1.9×), Tennessee (1.6×), Virginia (1.5×). 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 Lailani: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Lailani, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Lailani
What does Lailani mean?
Lailani is a spelling of Leilani, which means “heavenly lei; royal child” (Hawaiian origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Lailani?
Lailani was the 1070th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 227 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 999 places. More babies were named Lailani in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Lailani a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Lailani in the US.
Where is Lailani most popular?
In 2021–2025, Lailani was most common in Georgia (0.28 per 1,000 girls), followed by Louisiana and North Carolina.