Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Ailani
GirlHawaiian, American (modern coinage)· “often said to mean high chief”
- Meaning
- often said to mean high chief (origin disputed)
- Origin
- Hawaiian, American (modern coinage)
- Pronunciation
- eye-LAH-nee
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #168
- US babies 2025
- 1,807
- Best rank
- #168 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Ailani
Ailani is often said to mean “often said to mean high chief”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Hawaiian and American (modern coinage) roots.
Ailani is often described as a Hawaiian name meaning high chief or chiefess, linked to words such as aliʻi, meaning chief, and lani, meaning sky or heaven. That explanation is widely repeated in baby name sources but hard to confirm, and the name may be a modern creation inspired by Hawaiian sounds, like Leilani and Nalani. Ailani has become popular in the United States in recent years, admired for its breezy, musical sound. Pronunciations vary between eye-LAH-nee and ay-LAH-nee. Lani is an easy nickname.
Popularity over time
Ailani first appears in US Social Security records in 1996. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 10 different years, starting in 2016. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #168, and its highest count, 1,807 babies. Use has grown 769% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #5,314 in 2000, #2,137 in 2010, and #168 in 2025. Of the 7,899 US girls named Ailani since records began, 64% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 2,040 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Blair, Gemma, Vivienne, Alani, and Daphne.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Ailani ranked highest in New Mexico, Texas, and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | #70 | 17 |
| Texas | #79 | 314 |
| California | #84 | 340 |
| Arizona | #112 | 56 |
| Georgia | #114 | 83 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Ailani is usually pronounced eye-LAH-nee, with three syllables. It has six letters, starts with A and ends in “-ni”.
Middle names for Ailani
A few middle names that flow with Ailani: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Ailani
Similar names
Kehlani Girl
keh-LAH-nee
“often said to mean 'sea and sky'” · American (modern coinage)
#149
Kahlani Girl
kuh-LAH-nee
“variant of Kailani, 'sea and sky'” · American (modern coinage)
#875
Alani Girl
uh-LAH-nee
“orange tree” · Hawaiian
#161
Kailani Girl
ky-LAH-nee
“sea and sky” · Hawaiian
#253
Milani Girl
mih-LAH-nee
“uncertain; possibly from Milan” · American (modern coinage)
#288
Kalani Girl
kuh-LAH-nee
“the heavens” · Hawaiian
#387
Leilani Girl
lay-LAH-nee
“heavenly flowers” · Hawaiian
#60
Armani Unisex
ahr-MAH-nee
“from the Italian surname; army man” · Italian
#495
Amani Girl
ah-MAH-nee
“peace” · Swahili
#678
Harmoni Girl
HAHR-muh-nee
“harmony” · Greek
#1,000
Avani Girl
uh-VAH-nee
“earth” · Sanskrit
#806
Makayla Girl
muh-KAY-luh
“modern form of Michaela; who is like God?” · American (modern coinage)
#568
Lists that include Ailani
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ailani mean?
Ailani is often said to mean “often said to mean high chief”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Hawaiian and American (modern coinage) roots.
What is the origin of the name Ailani?
Ailani has Hawaiian and modern American roots. Ailani is often described as a Hawaiian name meaning high chief or chiefess, linked to words such as aliʻi, meaning chief, and lani, meaning sky or heaven.
Is Ailani a popular name?
Yes. Ailani ranked #168 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Ailani a boy or girl name?
Ailani is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Ailani?
Ailani is usually pronounced eye-LAH-nee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings