Kalani is a Hawaiian name of Native American origin. It is composed of two words: "kala," which means "the sea" or "of the sea," and "ni," which signifies "high" or "heavenly." Thus, Kalani translates to "of the sea that reaches the heavens."
The name Kalani has a rich history in Hawaiian culture. It was traditionally used as a title for Hawaiian royalty and chiefs. In ancient Hawaii, the title "Kalani" denoted someone who had high status or was considered divine. The most famous bearer of this name is King Kamehameha III, who ruled from 1825 to 1854.
Today, Kalani is used as both a first and last name in Hawaii and other parts of the United States. Despite its royal origins, it has become quite popular among common people as well. The name has been steadily gaining popularity in recent years due to its unique sound and meaningful origin.
Statistics on the given name Kalani show a varied trend over time in the United States.
From the late 1950s to the early 1960s, Kalani was not very common, with only five births recorded each year between 1959 and 1961. However, it began to gain popularity in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, reaching a peak of 23 births in 1975.
The name continued its upward trajectory in the 1980s, surpassing the 30 births mark for the first time in 1989 with 34 births. This trend continued into the 1990s, reaching a high of 86 births in 2009.
The popularity of Kalani peaked in the early 2000s, with over 80 births recorded each year from 2006 to 2008. Since then, the number of babies named Kalani has fluctuated but remained relatively stable, with around 50 to 70 births per year between 2014 and 2021.
Overall, there have been a total of 2,178 births registered as Kalani in the United States since records began. This demonstrates that while it may not be one of the most popular names, Kalani has certainly made its mark on American naming trends over time.