Fun Facts About the Name Meilani
- More than 3 thousand babies named Meilani: U.S. records list 3,970 babies given the name Meilani from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Meilani Mean?
Meilani is a name built on Hawaiian elements, most clearly lani, which in Hawaiian means "sky," "heaven," "heavenly," or "royal." The first part of the name is not securely identified. It may represent a Hawaiian word, or it may be an English respelling shaped by other names that begin with mai- or mei-. Name books often gloss Meilani as "heavenly flower," but the Hawaiian word for flower is pua, so that gloss reads as a customary interpretation rather than a literal translation. What can be stated with confidence is the lani element; the rest of the meaning is uncertain.
Meilani Name History & Origins
Names formed with lani are long established in Hawaii, where they appear in names such as Kalani and Leilani. Meilani belongs to that family of names and shares their structure, but it is a newer spelling, used mainly in the United States and especially associated with Hawaii. Its -ei- spelling matches the common English pronunciation with an "ay" sound, where a Hawaiian -ai- would normally suggest a different vowel sound.
Meilani is often treated as a variant or respelling of the Hawaiian name Mailani, and the two are sometimes used interchangeably in English. Whether Meilani is simply an English-oriented spelling of Mailani or an independent formation from Hawaiian word elements is not settled. The opening mei- also resembles a name element found in Chinese and Japanese names, but that resemblance is coincidental; those traditions are unrelated to the Hawaiian-derived name.
How Popular is the Name Meilani?
Meilani recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2025. Its best rank was #591 in 2025.
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 | #591 | 498 | 0.0310% |
| 2024 | #814 | 340 | 0.0211% |
| 2023 | #845 | 320 | 0.0200% |
| 2022 | #952 | 284 | 0.0173% |
| 2021 | #1,094 | 227 | 0.0138% |
| 2020 | #889 | 300 | 0.0186% |
| 2019 | #883 | 305 | 0.0182% |
| 2018 | #817 | 332 | 0.0195% |
| 2017 | #907 | 295 | 0.0171% |
| 2016 | #1,007 | 263 | 0.0148% |
| 2015 | #947 | 287 | 0.0161% |
| 2014 | #2,798 | 62 | 0.0035% |
| 2013 | #6,639 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2012 | #6,047 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2011 | #5,486 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2010 | #5,733 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 2009 | #4,770 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 2008 | #5,391 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 2007 | #5,839 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 2006 | #6,759 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2005 | #4,333 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 2004 | #5,328 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2003 | #6,489 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2002 | #8,646 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2001 | #5,993 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2000 | #6,135 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1999 | #8,600 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1998 | #6,963 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1997 | #8,142 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #8,602 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1995 | #10,179 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1994 | #9,334 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1993 | #6,494 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1992 | #10,115 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #12,346 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #8,491 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1988 | #4,594 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1987 | #5,493 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1984 | #11,518 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1982 | #11,616 | 5 | 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 Meilani Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. 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.
✦ Meilani's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Meilani's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.