How to say it
a · LA · ni
/əˈlɑ.ni/
Feminine
Alani
Orange tree, or 'precious'
What it means
Two roots converged: Hawaiian alani ('orange tree, orange fruit') and a feminine form of Greek Alan ('precious, harmony'). Sometimes treated as a variant of Alana. Surged in the 2010s with the broader Hawaiian-name wave.
Alani has two roots that converged in US use. The Hawaiian alani means 'orange tree' or 'orange fruit' (the citrus that arrived in Hawaii via the Spanish in the 18th century). The European reading takes Alani as a feminine form of Alan, ultimately Celtic, glossed as 'precious' or 'harmony.' The Hawaiian usage is the more authentic root. As a US given name Alani surged in the 2010s with the broader Hawaiian-name wave (alongside Kaia, Kalani, Kehlani, Kaylani). It entered the US top 500 in 2014. Common short: Lani or Ala.
Popularity over time
peaked at #161 in 2025, currently #161 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
uh-LAH-nee, three syllables, stress on the second.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Alani Nu American sports-nutrition supplement brand founded 2018 (sometimes misread as a name reference)
Spelling variants
- Alanee
- Alanie
Names with the same feeling
See Alani from another angle
By meaning