How to say it
keh · LA · ni
kɛˈlɑ.ni
Feminine
Kehlani
Sea and sky
What it means
Hawaiian compound (often glossed as 'sea and sky' or 'the heavens') from ke ('the') + lani ('sky, heaven') with a phonetic 'h.' Kehlani the American R&B singer (born 1995) is overwhelmingly the dominant cultural anchor.
Kehlani is a Hawaiian-style name often glossed as 'sea and sky' or 'the heavens' (ke 'the' + lani 'sky, heaven,' with a phonetic 'h'). Kehlani Ashley Parrish (born 1995), the American R&B and pop singer-songwriter, is overwhelmingly the dominant cultural anchor; she gained recognition after America's Got Talent (2011) and her 2016 debut album SweetSexySavage. As a US given name Kehlani is post-2015 and climbing fast. It entered the US top 500 in 2018. Common short: Lani or Keh.
How to spell Kehlani
The standard spelling is Kehlani. Common variants include Kelani, Kelanie, but Kehlani is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #149 in 2025, currently #149 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed August 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Kehlani the singer (SweetSexySavage 2016) is the dominant cultural anchor; the naming wave is essentially downstream of her career.
Who's worn it
- Kehlani American R&B singer-songwriter, SweetSexySavage (2016)
Spelling variants
- Kelani
- Kelanie
Names with the same feeling
See Kehlani from another angle
By meaning
Common questions
- What does the name Kehlani mean?
- Hawaiian compound (often glossed as 'sea and sky' or 'the heavens') from ke ('the') + lani ('sky, heaven') with a phonetic 'h.' Kehlani the American R&B singer (born 1995) is overwhelmingly the dominant cultural anchor.
- What does Kehlani mean in Hawaiian?
- In Hawaiian, Kehlani means "Sea and sky." Kehlani is a Hawaiian-style name often glossed as 'sea and sky' or 'the heavens' (ke 'the' + lani 'sky, heaven,' with a phonetic 'h'). Kehlani Ashley Parrish (born 1995), the American R&B and pop singer-songwriter, is overwhelmingly the dominant cultural anchor; she gained recognition after America's Got Talent (2011) and her 2016 debut album SweetSexySavage. As a US given name Kehlani is post-2015 and climbing fast. It entered the US top 500 in 2018. Common short: Lani or Keh.
- How do you pronounce Kehlani?
- Kehlani is pronounced kɛˈlɑ.ni. Say it as keh-LA-ni, with the stress on the "la" syllable.
- How do you spell Kehlani?
- The standard spelling is Kehlani. Common spelling variants include Kelani, Kelanie.
- Is Kehlani a boy or girl name?
- Kehlani is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Kehlani?
- Kehlani ranked #149 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.