Kalani

How to say it

kəˈlɑː.ni

What it means

Hawaiian, ka ('the') plus lani ('sky, heaven, royal one'), so 'the heavens' or 'the chief.'

Kalani is a Hawaiian name, ka, 'the,' joined to lani, 'sky' or 'heaven,' a word that also means royalty, so it reads as 'the heavens' or 'the chief.' It is genuinely unisex and belongs to the popular -lani family with Leilani, Kailani, and Kehlani, all of which have spread well beyond the islands. Lofty and flowing, said kah-LAH-nee.

How to spell Kalani

The standard spelling is Kalani. Common variants include Kalanie, Kealani, but Kalani is the most widely used form.

Heads-up notes

• Worth knowing

  Unisex; part of the Hawaiian -lani sky-and-royalty family.

• Pronunciation

  kah-LAH-nee.

Spelling variants

• Kalanie
• Kealani

Names with the same feeling

• Kailani Sea and sky
• Leilani Heavenly flowers, royal child
• Kehlani Sea and sky
• Kaylani Heavenly, royal
• Ailani High chief, exalted leader

See Kalani from another angle

Common questions

What does the name Kalani mean?

Hawaiian, ka ('the') plus lani ('sky, heaven, royal one'), so 'the heavens' or 'the chief.'

What does Kalani mean in Hawaiian?

In Hawaiian, Kalani means "The heavens, the sky." Kalani is a Hawaiian name, ka, 'the,' joined to lani, 'sky' or 'heaven,' a word that also means royalty, so it reads as 'the heavens' or 'the chief.' It is genuinely unisex and belongs to the popular -lani family with Leilani, Kailani, and Kehlani, all of which have spread well beyond the islands. Lofty and flowing, said kah-LAH-nee.

How do you pronounce Kalani?

Kalani is pronounced kəˈlɑː.ni. Say it as ka-LA-ni, with the stress on the "la" syllable.

How do you spell Kalani?

The standard spelling is Kalani. Common spelling variants include Kalanie, Kealani.

Is Kalani a boy or girl name?

Kalani is used for both boys and girls.

How popular is the name Kalani?

Kalani ranked #387 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.