Olani
A feminine name of Hawaiian origin representing a Hawaiian chill wave.
Name Census estimates that about 127 living Americans carry the first name Olani. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Olani today is around 6 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Olani births was 2024 (19 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Olani. 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.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Olani with official rankings and popularity over time.
People living today
127
~ 1 in 2,698,853 Americans
Peak year
2024
19 babies that year
Average age
6
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,316
Tracked since 2012
Popularity
Olani: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Olani from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 83 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
Olani 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 Olani during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Olani
The name Olani has its origins in the Hawaiian language and culture. It is derived from the Hawaiian word 'olani', which means 'heavenly' or 'celestial'. The name is believed to have been in use among the indigenous people of Hawaii for centuries before European contact.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Olani can be found in the Hawaiian chants and oral traditions that were passed down through generations. These chants often referenced the celestial bodies and the natural world, which may have influenced the naming of individuals with names like Olani.
In Hawaiian mythology, there are references to a goddess named Olani who was associated with the moon and the night sky. This could suggest that the name was initially given to individuals with a perceived connection to the celestial realm or as a way to honor this deity.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Olani. One of the earliest recorded was Olani Keaweaheulu, a high-ranking chief who lived in the late 18th century on the island of Hawaii. He was known for his leadership and military prowess during the turbulent times of the Hawaiian kingdom.
Another prominent figure was Olani Nainoa, a skilled navigator and voyager who lived in the 19th century. He played a significant role in reviving the traditional art of wayfinding, which involved navigating the open ocean using only the stars, winds, and currents as guides.
In more recent times, Olani Akana was a renowned Hawaiian musician and composer who was active in the mid-20th century. Her compositions helped to preserve and promote traditional Hawaiian music and language.
Additionally, Olani Burgess was a respected Hawaiian educator and activist who worked tirelessly to promote the rights and cultural preservation of the indigenous people of Hawaii in the late 20th century.
Lastly, Olani Engledow was a notable Hawaiian artist and sculptor whose works celebrated the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of the Hawaiian Islands in the latter part of the 20th century.
While the name Olani may have ancient roots, its meaning and cultural significance continue to resonate with many individuals of Hawaiian descent, serving as a connection to their rich cultural heritage and the celestial realm.
People
Olani + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Olani as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with O
Other first names starting with O with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Olani: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Olani?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 127 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Olani 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 2,698,853 US residents.
Is Olani a common name?
We classify Olani as "Very Rare". It ranks above 68% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 128 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Olani most popular?
The single biggest year for Olani was 2024, when 19 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Olani is about 6 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 Olani in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Olani a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Olani 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 Olani still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Olani 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 Olani 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 common is the name Olani?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people have the name Olani at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.