Ailana
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly from Hawaiian meaning "born of royalty".
Name Census estimates that about 495 living Americans carry the first name Ailana. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Ailana today is around 7 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ailana births was 2023 (118 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ailana. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
495
~ 1 in 692,433 Americans
Peak year
2023
118 babies that year
Average age
7
years old
2024 SSA rank
#1,936
Tracked since 2002
Popularity
Ailana: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ailana from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 324 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ailana by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ailana during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Ailanas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 9 states and territories. California, Texas, Florida recorded the most babies named Ailana, while Illinois, Hawaii, Georgia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 20 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Ailana
The name Ailana is of Hawaiian origin, with its roots tracing back to the ancient Polynesian languages spoken in the Hawaiian Islands. The name is believed to have been derived from the Hawaiian word 'ailana', which means 'chief' or 'leader'.
In Hawaiian culture, names held significant importance and were often chosen to reflect the family's lineage, spiritual beliefs, or the circumstances surrounding the child's birth. The name Ailana likely carried connotations of strength, leadership, and respect within the communities where it was used.
Historical records and ancient Hawaiian chants do not provide many specific references to individuals bearing the name Ailana. However, it is reasonable to assume that the name was used by notable figures and chiefs within the Hawaiian islands during the pre-colonial period.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Ailana can be found in the genealogical records of the Hawaiian royal family, the House of Kamehameha. Ailana Kalani (born circa 1780) was a member of this illustrious lineage, though her exact role and significance are not well-documented.
Another notable individual with the name Ailana was Ailana Kealoha (1892-1978), a Hawaiian songwriter, and musician who contributed to the preservation of traditional Hawaiian music and dance. Her compositions and performances played a crucial role in keeping the cultural heritage of the islands alive during a time of significant social and political change.
In the realm of Hawaiian mythology, the name Ailana is sometimes associated with the figure of Pele, the powerful goddess of fire, lightning, wind, and volcanoes. While there are no specific characters named Ailana in these ancient stories, the name's connection to leadership and strength aligns with the revered status of Pele in Hawaiian mythology.
Beyond the Hawaiian Islands, the name Ailana has also been recorded in various parts of the world, though its origins and meanings may have evolved or diverged from the Hawaiian roots. For instance, Ailana Navarro (1938-2017) was a prominent Puerto Rican actress and author, known for her contributions to the performing arts and literature in Latin America.
While the name Ailana may not be as widely recognized as some other Hawaiian names, its historical significance and cultural roots continue to resonate within the Hawaiian community and among those who appreciate the rich tapestry of Polynesian culture and tradition.
People
Ailana + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ailana as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ailana: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ailana?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 495 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ailana going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 692,433 US residents.
Is Ailana a common name?
We classify Ailana as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 498 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ailana most popular?
The single biggest year for Ailana was 2023, when 118 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ailana is about 7 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Ailana in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ailana a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ailana in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Ailana still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ailana in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Ailana can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Ailana?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.