Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Lani
GirlHawaiian· “sky, heaven”
- Meaning
- sky, heaven
- Origin
- Hawaiian
- Pronunciation
- LAH-nee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,603
- US babies 2025
- 131
- Best rank
- #877 (1947)
- Peak year
- 1979
Meaning and origin of Lani
Lani is a Hawaiian name that means “sky, heaven”.
In Hawaiian, lani means sky or heaven, and the word also has connotations of royalty and the heavenly. It appears in many Hawaiian names, such as Leilani, meaning heavenly flower, and Kalani, meaning the heavens. As a stand-alone name, Lani is short, gentle and warm, and it has spread beyond Hawaii to the wider United States. It works as a full name or as a nickname for longer names that include lani. Lani offers a simple, sunny sound with a meaning that connects to the islands and to the sky above.
Other spellings with the same sound: Loni.
Popularity over time
Lani first appears in US Social Security records in 1917. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 7 different years, starting in 1945. Its best national rank was #877 in 1947, and the most babies received it in 1979, when 143 were named Lani. In 2025, 131 babies were named Lani, and it ranked #1,603 nationally. That is 96% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #5,377 in 1920, #1,058 in 1950, #1,020 in 1980, #1,959 in 2000, #2,180 in 2010, and #1,603 in 2025. Of the 7,373 US girls named Lani since records began, 16% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 1970s come next, with 911 babies. Since 2010, 1,366 more have been named Lani.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Tiffaney, Tiffiny, Rasheeda, Imelda, and Somer.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Lani ranked highest in Indiana, California, and Florida.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | #878 | 7 |
| California | #1170 | 22 |
| Florida | #1212 | 12 |
| Texas | #1293 | 20 |
| Georgia | #1683 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 99% of US babies named Lani over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Lani is usually pronounced LAH-nee, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with L and ends in “-ni”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Loni.
Middle names for Lani
A few middle names that flow with Lani: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Lani
Similar names
Rani Girl
RAH-nee
“queen” · Sanskrit
#4,528
Ani Girl
AH-nee
“uncertain; several sources” · Armenian
#2,961
Danni Girl
DA-nee
“pet form of Danielle, God is my judge” · English
#3,076
Avni Girl
AHV-nee
“earth” · Sanskrit
#2,123
Roni Unisex
ROH-nee
“my joy” · Hebrew
#6,503
Leilani Girl
lay-LAH-nee
“heavenly flowers” · Hawaiian
#60
Alani Girl
uh-LAH-nee
“orange tree” · Hawaiian
#161
Kehlani Girl
keh-LAH-nee
“often said to mean 'sea and sky'” · American (modern coinage)
#149
Kailani Girl
ky-LAH-nee
“sea and sky” · Hawaiian
#253
Shani Girl
SHAH-nee
“marvelous (Swahili); scarlet (Hebrew)” · Swahili
#12,980
Kalani Girl
kuh-LAH-nee
“the heavens” · Hawaiian
#387
Kiana Girl
kee-AH-nuh
“modern name; uncertain origin” · American (modern coinage)
#743
Lists that include Lani
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lani mean?
Lani is a Hawaiian name that means “sky, heaven”.
What is the origin of the name Lani?
Lani has Hawaiian roots. In Hawaiian, lani means sky or heaven, and the word also has connotations of royalty and the heavenly.
Is Lani a popular name?
Not especially. Lani ranked #1,603 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Lani a boy or girl name?
Lani is mainly a girl's name. About 99% of US babies named Lani over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Lani?
Lani is usually pronounced 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