Kalani is a Hawaiian name of Hawaiian origin. The name is composed of two parts: "kā" meaning "the sea" and "lani" which means "heaven". Therefore, the name Kalani translates to "sea and sky", or more poetically, "from the sea to heaven".
The name has been used in Hawaii for centuries and was traditionally given to both boys and girls. It is believed that the name was first used by Hawaiian royalty, with King Kamehameha III being one of the most famous bearers of the name.
In recent years, Kalani has gained popularity outside of Hawaii and is now used as a given name throughout the United States and other parts of the world. Despite its increasing global usage, the name remains deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture and history.
The name Kalani has seen a significant increase in popularity over the past few decades in the United States, as indicated by the number of births recorded each year.
From 1963 to 1977, the number of babies named Kalani remained relatively low, with an average of about five births per year. However, starting in 1978, there was a noticeable uptick in the popularity of the name, with more than ten births recorded each year.
The years between 1993 and 2005 saw a steady increase in the number of babies named Kalani, with the highest number of births during this period occurring in 2004, at 143. This trend continued into the late 2000s and early 2010s, with over 100 births recorded each year between 2006 and 2013.
In recent years, the name Kalani has become increasingly popular, with more than 800 births recorded in both 2020 and 2021. In fact, according to the latest data available, there were 958 babies named Kalani in the United States in 2021 alone.
Overall, since 1963, there have been a total of 8548 babies named Kalani born in the United States. This statistic reflects the growing popularity of the name over time and demonstrates that Kalani has become an increasingly common choice for parents looking to give their children unique and distinctive names.