How to say it
ai · LA · ni
aɪˈlɑ.ni
Feminine
Ailani
High chief, exalted leader
What it means
Hawaiian compound from ali'i ('chief, royal') + lani ('sky, heaven'), often glossed as 'high chief' or 'exalted leader.' Part of the broader Hawaiian-name wave (Alani, Kalani, Kehlani, Leilani).
Ailani is a Hawaiian compound name from ali'i ('chief, royal') + lani ('sky, heaven'), with the okina (glottal stop) typically dropped in US English usage. Often glossed as 'high chief' or 'exalted leader.' The name surged in US use in the 2010s with the broader Hawaiian-name wave (Alani, Kalani, Kaylani, Kehlani, Leilani). As a US given name Ailani entered the top 1000 in 2014. Common short: Lani or Ai.
How to spell Ailani
The standard spelling is Ailani. Common variants include Ailanee, Aelani, but Ailani is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #168 in 2025, currently #168 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
eye-LAH-nee, three syllables, stress on the second. The 'ai' is one dipthong (rhymes with 'eye'), not two separate vowels.
Spelling variants
- Ailanee
- Aelani
Names with the same feeling
See Ailani from another angle
By meaning
Common questions
- What does the name Ailani mean?
- Hawaiian compound from ali'i ('chief, royal') + lani ('sky, heaven'), often glossed as 'high chief' or 'exalted leader.' Part of the broader Hawaiian-name wave (Alani, Kalani, Kehlani, Leilani).
- What does Ailani mean in Hawaiian?
- In Hawaiian, Ailani means "High chief, exalted leader." Ailani is a Hawaiian compound name from ali'i ('chief, royal') + lani ('sky, heaven'), with the okina (glottal stop) typically dropped in US English usage. Often glossed as 'high chief' or 'exalted leader.' The name surged in US use in the 2010s with the broader Hawaiian-name wave (Alani, Kalani, Kaylani, Kehlani, Leilani). As a US given name Ailani entered the top 1000 in 2014. Common short: Lani or Ai.
- How do you pronounce Ailani?
- Ailani is pronounced aɪˈlɑ.ni. Say it as ai-LA-ni, with the stress on the "la" syllable.
- How do you spell Ailani?
- The standard spelling is Ailani. Common spelling variants include Ailanee, Aelani.
- Is Ailani a boy or girl name?
- Ailani is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Ailani?
- Ailani ranked #168 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.