Kanani is a unique and beautiful Hawaiian name for girls. It originates from the Hawaiian language and has a profound meaning that resonates with many people.
The name Kanani is derived from two Hawaiian words: "kana" which means "to write or to compose," and "ni" which means "the second." Therefore, Kanani can be translated as "the second composition" or "the second written piece."
According to Hawaiian tradition, the name Kanani is often given to a child born after an older sibling who did not survive infancy. This practice aims to honor and remember the deceased child while bringing good fortune and protection to the new baby.
The name Kanani has a rich history in Hawaiian culture and has been used for generations. It was notably carried by Queen Ka'ahumanu II, the niece of King Kamehameha I, who ruled over the island of Maui during the early 19th century.
Today, Kanani continues to be popular among Hawaiian families, as well as those who appreciate its unique sound and meaningful origins. It is a name that pays tribute to Hawaiian heritage while also embracing a broader cultural significance.
Based on the statistics provided, we can observe several trends regarding the number of births for the name Kanani in the United States over time.
In the early years covered by these statistics (from 1964 to 1970), the name Kanani was quite rare, with only five occurrences each year. However, starting from 1972, we see a gradual increase in its popularity, peaking at 28 births in 1998.
The highest numbers of newborns named Kanani occurred between 1995 and 2000, with the years 1997 (27 births) and 2000 (31 births) being the most popular for this name during this period. This suggests that Kanani was particularly fashionable as a baby girl's name in the late 1990s.
After reaching its peak popularity around the turn of the century, the frequency of newborns named Kanani began to decline steadily. From 2004 onwards, there were consistently fewer than 25 births per year with this name.
Interestingly, despite the overall downward trend in recent years, there have been fluctuations and minor revivals in popularity for Kanani. For instance, we see a slight increase in its usage again since around 2018, with numbers hovering between 12 to 19 births annually up until 2022.
Overall, when analyzing the statistics from 1964 to 2023, it's clear that Kanani has seen varying levels of popularity over time. While it was quite uncommon in its early years, reaching a peak around the late 1990s, and then declining steadily, there have been some signs of renewed interest in recent times.