Leilani Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity & Nicknames

Leilani Name Meaning and Origin

Leilani is primarily a girl name of Hawaiian origin. This exotic flowery name first made it on the baby-naming charts in the late 1930s. Used mainly in the English-speaking and Polynesian countries, Leilani symbolizes regard and love for the ‘heavenly woman’ on whom it is bestowed.

What Does Leilani Mean?

From the Hawaiian roots, Lei means ‘child’ or “flower,” and Lani means “heavenly,” which can also be translated as “royal child of heaven” connected to high-birth and aristocracy. Leilani is a girl’s name of Hawaiian origin, meaning a “heavenly flower” or “heavenly blossoms.”

Origin

Lei means flowers/child, and Lani means ‘sky/heaven/royal.’ Apart from signifying the heavens skywards or ‘high-born,’ ‘royal,’ or ‘aristocrat,’ Lei is also associated with the imagery of beloved children. “Sweet Leilani” is an Academy Award-winning song by Bing Crosby. The popularity of the fictional “Princess Leia” of “Star Wars” in the 1970s and 1980s can be attributed to the growing fame of Leilani as a worthy choice for girls.

Gender

Female

Pronunciation

  • Lay-LON-nee
  • lay-lah-nee
  • Leil-ani
  • Ley-LAA-Niy

Syllables

3 syllables

Length/Letter

7 letters

Name Variations/Spellings

Name variants like Leilani are less common and have marginal alternatives in other languages. Here are some of the Leilani name variations and other spellings for Leilani that are easy, breezy, and beautiful as other Hawaiian names:

Name Origin
 Lalani Polynesian
Leoline Greek
Lilian Latin
Liliana English
Liliane Latin
Lilyan Latin
Lilyann Latin

How Popular Is the Name Leilani?

Records indicate that 18,019 girls in the United States have been named Leilani since 1880. Leilani is predominantly a girl’s name, with 99.95 % of girls (35784) and 0.05% (19) of boys called by this name. 2012 recorded the highest popularity of the name when 1,403 people in the US were named Leilani.

This Christian name has made its way to the mainland of the US, despite its Polynesian origin, and is currently experiencing a surge in popularity as a famous name. The Leilani popularity ranking as a baby name went up by 117% in 2015, with 1794 babies being named Leilani, accounting for 0.049% of the girls born in the US that year. After being counted among the top 1000 names for several years, Leilani baby name ranking finally entered the top 100 names for girls, coming at #92 as per the latest 2020 statistical data.

Interest in Leilani – Worldwide

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Over the last eight years, search trends for the name Leilani recorded a consistent search value of over 20 reaching 100 in May 2018. The lowest value was recorded in February 2011 and July 2011 at 20.

Interest in Leilani – US

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Over the decade, search trends for the name Leilani show consistently low search popularity, only reaching 100 in May 2018. The lowest record in the popularity scale shows a value of 30 on two occasions, May 2011 and February 2012.

Popularity of the name Leilani

URL: https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi

Where Is the Name Most Searched?

Search trends of Leilani Worldwide

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Interest through the decade shows a positive interest score for the name Leilani in Trinidad and Tobago. Countries like Jamaica, United States, South Africa, and New Zealand have rounded up top five positions. This tropical name with a meaning that relates to divinity associating a child as a gift of God made parents of Trinidad and Tobago choose this name for their baby girls.

Search trends of Leilani in the US

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Top searches for the name Leilani have been recorded in Hawaii over the last ten years. California, Nevada, Washington, and Alaska round up the top 5 sub-regions of the US, where search trends for Leilani have been the highest.

Middle Names That Go With Leilani

A good middle name makes a name sound more exquisite and thus, gets its share of praise as an alternate name. Here are some double names with Leilani that exude class and sophistication:

Anne Ariel
Alexandria Camille
Belle Celeste
Claire Dawn
Estelle Grace
Gwen Fern
Faith Jade
Juliet Joy
Kay Noelle
Michelle Rae

Famous People Named Leilani

Celebrity monikers help a name to gain mileage and public attention. Here are some famous people called Leilani who helped in increasing the popularity of the name:

Celebrity Name Profession/Famous For
Leilani English Pop Singer
Leilani Bishop American Model
Leilani Farha Canadian Lawyer
Leilani Jones American Actress
Leilani Kai Retired Wrestler
Leilani Sarelle American Actress
Leilani Rorani New Zealand Squash Player
Leilani Latu Australian Rugby League footballer
Leilani Mitchell American-Australian Basketball Player
Leilani Dowding English Model
Leilani Munter American Nascar Driver

Similar Names & Last Names

Baby names like Leilani have tons of potential to make a difference in your child’s life. Identifying suitable family names for Leilani can also play a vital role in restoring the pride of belonging to a particular family. Here are some of the other names for Leilani that shares the unique essence of the name:

Other Baby Names Suitable Family Names
Jasmine Hale
Lotus Iona
Fleur Kahale
Kalani Kawai
Magnolia Kaehi
Amaryllis Kekoa
Acacia Akamu
Lilac Opunui
Dahlia Mahelona
Azalea Mahoe
Lilian Jones

Names That Sound Like Leilani

Names that rhyme with Leilani can have an ending with an identical or corresponding sound lyrical to another. Here are some names that match with Leilani:

Pualani Noelani
Hinano Christina
Lini Rhegan
Liliana Sophia
Elona Catalina
Mariah Teuila
Heaven Jocelyn
Desiree Juliette
Tiana Imani
Natasha Destiney

Sibling Names Related to Leilani

Although sibling names are not interchangeable, they can have a similar style, consistency, or theme to strike a balance between them. Here are some of the best sibling names that go with Leilani that can make a child feel like a part of a larger group:

Sister Names for Leilani Brother Names for Leilani
Amala Joshua
Natalie Anthony
Marissa Richard
Noelia David
Malia Joel
Marcy Xavier
Mohala Kainoa
Kylie Paulo
Elinor Jeremiah
Cara Estevan
Rosalie Yamil

Nicknames for Leilani

Nicknames provide clues to the inherent characteristics of a child. Here are some of the most endearing nicknames for the name Leilani that hint at the emotional bond that you share with your child:

Lili Lani
Lanie Lala
Leila Melanie
Lei Lania
Ani Lan
Nani Layla
L Lany
Lei Lay Lena
Nini Annie
Lia Lily

 

Baby names originating from the islands of Hawaii express the beauty of nature and bears secrets of divine creativity. With its specific symbolic and spiritual meaning, a traditional name like Leilani can help your child discover the rich history of the colorful Hawaiian culture.

Sources/References

Social Security Administration: https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi
Leilani Name Popularity in the United States: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2011-01-01%202021-09-27&geo=US&q=Leilani
Leilani Name Popularity Across The World: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2011-01-01%202021-09-27&q=Leilani
Leilani Name Interest in the United States: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2011-01-01%202021-09-27&geo=US&q=Leilani
Leilani Name Interest Across The World: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2011-01-01%202021-09-27&q=Leilani

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