How to say it
kai · LA · ni
kaɪˈlɑː.ni
Feminine
Kailani
Sea and sky
What it means
Hawaiian, kai ('sea') plus lani ('sky, heaven'), so 'sea and sky.'
Kailani is a Hawaiian compound, kai 'sea' joined to lani 'sky' or 'heaven,' a name that holds the whole horizon. It belongs to the popular -lani family alongside Leilani, Kalani, and Kehlani, all of which have spread well beyond the islands in the last decade. It is flowing and elemental, equally at home on the water and looking up. Said ky-LAH-nee, with Lani as the short.
How to spell Kailani
The standard spelling is Kailani. Common variants include Kailany, Kalani, Kaileigh, but Kailani is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #222 in 2022, currently #253 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
ky-LAH-nee; Lani is the natural short.
- Spelling
Part of the Hawaiian -lani group with Leilani, Kalani, and Kehlani.
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.
- Kailani a Hawaiian sea-and-sky name rising fast on the US mainland
Spelling variants
- Kailany
- Kalani
- Kaileigh
Names with the same feeling
See Kailani from another angle
By meaning
Common questions
- What does the name Kailani mean?
- Hawaiian, kai ('sea') plus lani ('sky, heaven'), so 'sea and sky.'
- What does Kailani mean in Hawaiian?
- In Hawaiian, Kailani means "Sea and sky." Kailani is a Hawaiian compound, kai 'sea' joined to lani 'sky' or 'heaven,' a name that holds the whole horizon. It belongs to the popular -lani family alongside Leilani, Kalani, and Kehlani, all of which have spread well beyond the islands in the last decade. It is flowing and elemental, equally at home on the water and looking up. Said ky-LAH-nee, with Lani as the short.
- How do you pronounce Kailani?
- Kailani is pronounced kaɪˈlɑː.ni. Say it as kai-LA-ni, with the stress on the "la" syllable.
- How do you spell Kailani?
- The standard spelling is Kailani. Common spelling variants include Kailany, Kalani, Kaileigh.
- Is Kailani a boy or girl name?
- Kailani is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Kailani?
- Kailani ranked #253 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.