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Alani vs Kehlani

Which is more popular?
Kehlani is more popular than Alani today: about 1,981 US babies were given the name Kehlani in 2025, compared with 1,843 named Alani.
AlaniKehlani
Meaning orange tree the heavens / sea and sky
Origin hawaiian hawaiian
Gender Girl Girl
Pronunciation uh-LAH-nee keh-LAH-nee
Syllables 3 3
First appeared19782015
Peak year2025 (1,843)2025 (1,981)
In 20251,8431,981
TrendNear its peakNear its peak
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Alani Kehlani
198020002020

Source: US Social Security Administration.

Births by decade

DecadeAlaniKehlani
2020s 9,825 11,283
2010s 6,166 3,198
2000s 2,377 0
1990s 355 0
1980s 71 0
1970s 5 0

What does Alani mean?

From Hawaiian 'alani', meaning 'orange tree' (and the color orange), also linked to a fragrant native tree whose leaves scented cloth. A separate, unrelated name Alana (Celtic) is sometimes confused with it.

What does Kehlani mean?

A modern Hawaiian-style name built on 'lani' (sky, heaven), often read as a blend of 'kai' (sea) and 'lani' (sky), giving 'sea and sky'. It is closely related to the traditional Hawaiian name Kalani ('the heavens') and was popularized by the singer Kehlani.

Frequently asked questions

Is Alani or Kehlani more popular?

Kehlani is more popular than Alani today: about 1,981 US babies were given the name Kehlani in 2025, compared with 1,843 named Alani.

What is the difference between Alani and Kehlani?

Alani means orange tree (hawaiian origin), while Kehlani means the heavens / sea and sky (hawaiian origin).

Which name is older, Alani or Kehlani?

In US records, Alani first appears in 1978 and Kehlani in 2015, so Alani has the longer recorded history.