Laelani
A Hawaiian name meaning "heavenly lei" or "wreath from heaven".
Name Census estimates that about 269 living Americans carry the first name Laelani. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Laelani today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Laelani births was 2022 (25 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Laelani. 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
269
~ 1 in 1,274,180 Americans
Peak year
2022
25 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,509
Tracked since 2003
Popularity
Laelani: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Laelani from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 115 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
Laelani 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 Laelani during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Laelanis live
Origin
Meaning and history of Laelani
The name Laelani is a Hawaiian name that has its roots in the Polynesian culture and language. The name is derived from the Hawaiian words "lae," meaning "brow" or "promontory," and "lani," meaning "heaven" or "sky." Together, these words suggest a meaning of "heavenly brow" or "heavenly promontory."
Historically, Hawaiian names were often inspired by natural elements, such as the land, sea, and sky. The name Laelani reflects this tradition, evoking images of the beautiful Hawaiian landscapes and the celestial realm. It is a name that carries a sense of reverence and connection to the natural world.
While the name Laelani has its origins in Hawaii, it has gained popularity in other parts of the world as well. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hawaiian language newspaper "Ka Nupepa Kuokoa" from the late 19th century, where it was mentioned as a girl's name.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the name Laelani. One such person was Laelani Loomis (1908-1988), a Hawaiian entertainer and singer who was known for her performances of traditional Hawaiian music. She played a significant role in preserving and promoting Hawaiian culture through her music.
Another notable figure was Laelani Mowatt (1901-1994), a Hawaiian artist and educator. She was known for her vibrant paintings that captured the beauty of the Hawaiian landscapes and her efforts to promote art education among the youth of Hawaii.
In the literary world, Laelani Kauilani (1915-1998) was a notable Hawaiian author and poet. Her works explored themes of Hawaiian culture, identity, and the natural world. Her poetry collection "Kahiki" was widely acclaimed and helped to preserve the rich oral traditions of Hawaii.
More recently, Laelani Kai (born 1992) is a Hawaiian singer and songwriter who has gained recognition for her contemporary take on traditional Hawaiian music. Her debut album "Maluhia" received critical acclaim and showcased her talent for blending traditional Hawaiian sounds with modern influences.
Laelani Lolohea (born 1985) is a Hawaiian hula dancer and choreographer. She has been instrumental in preserving and promoting the art of hula, which is an integral part of Hawaiian culture. Her performances and teachings have helped to keep this cultural tradition alive for future generations.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Laelani throughout history, each contributing to the preservation and celebration of Hawaiian culture in their own unique way.
People
Laelani + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Laelani as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Laelani: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Laelani?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 269 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Laelani 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 1,274,180 US residents.
Is Laelani a common name?
We classify Laelani as "Very Rare". It ranks above 78% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 271 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Laelani most popular?
The single biggest year for Laelani was 2022, when 25 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Laelani is about 11 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 Laelani in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Laelani a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Laelani 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 Laelani still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Laelani 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 Laelani 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 Laelani?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.