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 July 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
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give 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.