The name Lei is of Hawaiian origin and means "heavenly flower." It is often associated with the beautiful and fragrant plumeria flower that grows abundantly in Hawaii. The name Lei has been popularized by the famous Hawaiian singer Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, who had a song titled "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" that featured the ukulele. Despite its Hawaiian origins, Lei is not exclusively used in Hawaii or among Hawaiian people. It has gained popularity worldwide as a unisex name and can be found in many different cultures and languages.
The name Lei has seen a relatively steady occurrence in the United States over several decades. From 1979 to 2015, there have been a total of 31 babies named Lei born each year. The years with the highest number of births were recent, with 6 babies named Lei born in 2015.