Fun Facts About the Name Lealani
- 98 babies named Lealani: U.S. records list 98 babies given the name Lealani from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Lealani Mean?
Lealani is best explained as a spelling variant of the Hawaiian name Leilani, and it is usually given the same meaning. Leilani joins two Hawaiian words: lei, a garland or wreath, typically of flowers, and lani, meaning sky or heaven and, by extension, royal or chiefly. Read literally, the compound suggests "garland of the sky" or "heavenly garland"; the customary English rendering is "heavenly flower." The Lea- opening in Lealani is an English-language adaptation rather than a separate Hawaiian root, so the underlying elements remain lei and lani.
Lealani Name History & Origins
Leilani is built from two of the most productive elements in Hawaiian naming. Lani appears in many Hawaiian names, from the simple Lani to names such as Kalani, and lei is a familiar Hawaiian word for a flower garland. Names of this kind became known far outside Hawaii in the twentieth century; the song "Sweet Leilani," written by Harry Owens and sung by Bing Crosby in the 1937 film Waikiki Wedding, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and made the name familiar to mainland American audiences.
Lealani belongs to the later practice of respelling Hawaiian names for English speakers. The change from Lei- to Lea- does not reflect a shift in Hawaiian pronunciation or a different Hawaiian word; it is an English spelling choice. Because of that, Lealani's own history is essentially the history of the spelling of Leilani in English-speaking countries rather than the development of a separate Hawaiian name.
How Popular is the Name Lealani?
Lealani 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 2021. Its best rank was #8,742 in 2021.
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 | #11,492 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2024 | #10,693 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #14,393 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2021 | #8,742 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2020 | #12,886 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2019 | #14,809 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #14,871 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2016 | #13,723 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2013 | #18,116 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #15,933 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #13,277 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #14,794 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2006 | #10,308 | 11 | 0.0006% |
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 Lealani Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You always bring to completion anything you start. You are generous but like to see returns from your giving. You have an executive ability, you are a leader. You are moral, balanced, honest and intellectual, and you may attain spirituality. You are wise and practical with an appreciation of beauty. You always think before you act. 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.
✦ Lealani's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Lealani's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.