Fun Facts About the Name Keoni
- More than 3 thousand babies named Keoni: U.S. records list 3,575 babies given the name Keoni from 1880 through 2025. Even 372 girls received the name Keoni - about 1 girl for every 9 boys.
What Does the Name Keoni Mean?
Keoni is the Hawaiian form of the English name John (often by way of the familiar form Johnny). It carries the same meaning: "God is gracious." The English name descends from the Latin Iohannes and Greek Iōannēs, which come from the Hebrew name Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן). That Hebrew name is built from two elements: yo, a shortened form of the divine name YHWH, and chanan, a verb meaning "to be gracious" or "to show favor." So the literal sense is closer to "Yahweh is gracious," and the customary short rendering is "God is gracious."
It is worth keeping Keoni distinct from Ioane, the other Hawaiian form of John. Ioane is a direct transliteration used in the Hawaiian Bible, while Keoni reflects the later adaptation of the English pronunciation into Hawaiian sound patterns.
Keoni Name History & Origins
Keoni arose when the English name John was fitted to Hawaiian phonology. Hawaiian has no /dʒ/ sound (the "j" of John) and typically substitutes a /k/, and Hawaiian syllables do not end in a consonant, so a consonant-final English form needed a final vowel. The result was Keoni, closely matching the English spoken form of John or its affectionate form Johnny.
Hawaiian already had a form of the name from missionary-era Bible translation. In the Hawaiian Bible, John appears as Ioane, a transliteration that follows the Greek Iōannēs more closely than the English does. Keoni therefore belongs to a different line of transmission: not the scriptural transliteration but the everyday borrowing of the English name through contact with English speakers.
As a given name, Keoni is used in Hawaii and among Hawaiians and people of Hawaiian ancestry, and it also circulates in the wider United States. It is one of several Hawaiian or Hawaiian-style forms of John, alongside Ioane and the biblical usage.
How Popular is the Name Keoni?
Keoni has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2013. Its best rank was #1,272 in 1999.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #8,108 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2024 | #7,396 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2023 | #7,457 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2022 | #6,344 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 2021 | #7,105 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 2020 | #8,675 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2019 | #6,882 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2018 | #11,974 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2017 | #15,051 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #13,633 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2015 | #11,396 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #11,467 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2013 | #9,327 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2012 | #10,849 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2011 | #14,081 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2010 | #11,764 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2009 | #7,890 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2008 | #10,442 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2007 | #9,290 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2006 | #9,007 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2005 | #8,603 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2004 | #12,203 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2003 | #9,376 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2002 | #8,554 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2001 | #7,537 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2000 | #14,075 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #6,672 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1998 | #15,348 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #7,507 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1995 | #10,046 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1994 | #7,885 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #11,173 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #12,527 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #10,845 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,067 | 72 | 0.0042% |
| 2024 | #1,720 | 96 | 0.0056% |
| 2023 | #1,596 | 109 | 0.0064% |
| 2022 | #1,659 | 104 | 0.0060% |
| 2021 | #1,617 | 105 | 0.0060% |
| 2020 | #1,793 | 84 | 0.0049% |
| 2019 | #1,719 | 92 | 0.0051% |
| 2018 | #2,007 | 73 | 0.0040% |
| 2017 | #1,987 | 72 | 0.0039% |
| 2016 | #1,838 | 82 | 0.0043% |
| 2015 | #1,834 | 81 | 0.0042% |
| 2014 | #2,032 | 70 | 0.0036% |
| 2013 | #1,462 | 113 | 0.0060% |
| 2012 | #1,609 | 97 | 0.0051% |
| 2011 | #1,695 | 88 | 0.0046% |
| 2010 | #1,919 | 74 | 0.0039% |
| 2009 | #1,804 | 83 | 0.0042% |
| 2008 | #1,699 | 90 | 0.0044% |
| 2007 | #1,612 | 97 | 0.0047% |
| 2006 | #1,800 | 77 | 0.0037% |
| 2005 | #1,766 | 75 | 0.0038% |
| 2004 | #1,496 | 90 | 0.0045% |
| 2003 | #1,694 | 73 | 0.0037% |
| 2002 | #1,827 | 63 | 0.0032% |
| 2001 | #1,607 | 74 | 0.0038% |
| 2000 | #1,494 | 82 | 0.0042% |
| 1999 | #1,272 | 97 | 0.0051% |
| 1998 | #1,675 | 62 | 0.0032% |
| 1997 | #1,827 | 52 | 0.0028% |
| 1996 | #1,975 | 45 | 0.0024% |
| 1995 | #1,595 | 58 | 0.0030% |
| 1994 | #2,064 | 40 | 0.0021% |
| 1993 | #1,812 | 47 | 0.0024% |
| 1992 | #2,278 | 33 | 0.0017% |
| 1991 | #1,687 | 49 | 0.0024% |
| 1990 | #1,795 | 44 | 0.0021% |
| 1989 | #1,650 | 48 | 0.0024% |
| 1988 | #2,479 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1987 | #1,773 | 37 | 0.0020% |
| 1986 | #2,193 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1985 | #2,046 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1984 | #1,645 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 1983 | #2,175 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1982 | #2,140 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1981 | #1,748 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1980 | #1,938 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1979 | #2,076 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 1978 | #2,434 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1977 | #1,928 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 1976 | #2,763 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1975 | #3,554 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1974 | #4,407 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #3,901 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1972 | #5,378 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1971 | #3,066 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1970 | #3,685 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1969 | #2,966 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1968 | #3,928 | 6 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Keoni Shapes Your Personality and Life?
EXTREMES in fortune, health and spirituality. You are very versatile, idealistic and intuitive. You either enjoy great success or suffer abject misery. The solution is service to others. Use your leadership abilities for humanity and not for self-glorification. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Keoni's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Keoni's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.