How to say it
kay · LA · ni
kaɪˈlɑ.ni
Feminine
Kaylani
Heavenly, royal
What it means
Hawaiian respelling of Kalani, from ka ('the') + lani ('sky, heaven, royal'), with a phonetic Y. Often glossed as 'heavenly' or 'royal one.' Part of the broader Hawaiian-name wave (Alani, Kalani, Kehlani, Leilani).
Kaylani is a phonetic American respelling of the Hawaiian Kalani, from ka ('the') + lani ('sky, heaven, royal'), often glossed as 'heavenly' or 'royal one' in the Hawaiian tradition (where lani names like Kalanikūpule and Kalanikūiapinaʻu were associated with the ruling class). The Y respelling is American and modern. As a US given name Kaylani surged in the 2010s with the broader Hawaiian-name wave. It entered the US top 500 in 2017. Common short: Lani or Kay.
How to spell Kaylani
The standard spelling is Kaylani. Common variants include Kalani, Kalanie, Kaylanie, but Kaylani is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #185 in 2025, currently #185 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
- Spelling
Kalani (traditional Hawaiian) and Kaylani (the American phonetic respelling) are the same name; Kaylani reads as more modern American.
Spelling variants
- Kalani
- Kalanie
- Kaylanie
Names with the same feeling
See Kaylani from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Kaylani mean?
- Hawaiian respelling of Kalani, from ka ('the') + lani ('sky, heaven, royal'), with a phonetic Y. Often glossed as 'heavenly' or 'royal one.' Part of the broader Hawaiian-name wave (Alani, Kalani, Kehlani, Leilani).
- What does Kaylani mean in Hawaiian?
- In Hawaiian, Kaylani means "Heavenly, royal." Kaylani is a phonetic American respelling of the Hawaiian Kalani, from ka ('the') + lani ('sky, heaven, royal'), often glossed as 'heavenly' or 'royal one' in the Hawaiian tradition (where lani names like Kalanikūpule and Kalanikūiapinaʻu were associated with the ruling class). The Y respelling is American and modern. As a US given name Kaylani surged in the 2010s with the broader Hawaiian-name wave. It entered the US top 500 in 2017. Common short: Lani or Kay.
- How do you pronounce Kaylani?
- Kaylani is pronounced kaɪˈlɑ.ni. Say it as kay-LA-ni, with the stress on the "la" syllable.
- How do you spell Kaylani?
- The standard spelling is Kaylani. Common spelling variants include Kalani, Kalanie, Kaylanie.
- Is Kaylani a boy or girl name?
- Kaylani is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Kaylani?
- Kaylani ranked #185 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.