Leilani is a Hawaiian girl's name that means "heavenly flower." The name is of Polynesian origin and is composed of two elements: "lei," which refers to the garlands or wreaths made from flowers, leaves, and shells, and "lani," which means "heaven" or "sky."
The name Leilani has been popular in Hawaii for many years and is often given to girls born there. It is also used in other parts of the world where Hawaiian culture has had an influence.
Leilani was not a common name among early Hawaiians, but it became more widespread after the arrival of Western missionaries in the late 18th century. These missionaries introduced Christianity to Hawaii and encouraged the use of Christian names for babies born there.
Despite its Christian origins, Leilani remains deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture and is often used as a middle name or as part of a longer compound name. For example, some popular combinations include Leilaniokalani (meaning "heavenly flower, royal one") and Leilanimakalapua (meaning "heavenly flower, precious child").
Today, Leilani continues to be a beloved and popular name among Hawaiian families, as well as those who are drawn to its beautiful meaning and sound. It is a name that honors Hawaiian culture while also having a universal appeal.
The name Leilanee has seen a varied number of births in the United States over the past decade and a half. In 2007, there were 5 newborn girls given this name. This number increased to 8 in both 2009 and 2010, showing a slight uptick in popularity during those years.
After a brief dip to 5 births in 2012, the name Leilanee regained momentum with 9 births in 2013. This trend continued into 2014, with a total of 10 girls named Leilanee born that year. However, since then, the popularity of this name has stabilized, with 8 births each year from 2015 to 2016 and again in 2019.
Most recently, in 2020, there were 7 newborn girls named Leilanee, indicating that while this name may not be as popular as it was a few years ago, it still holds some appeal for parents choosing names for their daughters. Overall, since 2007, there have been a total of 76 births to girls named Leilanee in the United States.