Leilani
Meaning
heavenly flower
The story
Leilani is Hawaiian, built from lei, a garland or wreath, and lani, heaven, sky, royal, or majestic. Heavenly garland is the literal structure, while heavenly flowers captures the image that many families hear. The two Hawaiian elements each carry a range of English glosses, which is why a careful account preserves the original words instead of forcing one narrow translation. The US curve is modern and steady. Leilani is nearly absent through most of the twentieth century, first registers in the 1990s, then rises through the 2000s and 2010s before holding near its high point in the 2020s. The growth reflects wider use far beyond Hawaii, which makes accurate attribution especially important. Leilani is not a generic invented nature name; it comes from the Hawaiian language and a living cultural vocabulary.
Popularity, 1890–2024
Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Leilani peaked in the 2010s and the 2020s in nearly equal measure.
See popularity in Brazil
Popularity in Brazil
112 people · the #38,089 first name in Brazil · about 1 in 1,000,000 · median age 34
Among people named Leilani living in Brazil at the 2022 census, more were born in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Source: IBGE, Censo Demográfico 2022
When you meet Leilani
Most people given the name Leilani in the United States are children or teenagers today. The name belongs to this generation.
Estimated from US Social Security birth registrations and typical lifespans; a rough guide, not a rule.
The Leilani deep dive
Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Leilani truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Leilani fits with your family’s names and surname.
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