Fun Facts About the Name Nani
- 692 babies named Nani: U.S. records list 692 babies given the name Nani from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Nani Mean?
Nani is a Hawaiian name meaning "beautiful" or "pretty." It comes from the Hawaiian word nani, which means "beautiful, pretty, glorious, splendid" and, as a noun, "beauty, glory, splendor." Hawaiian is a Polynesian language, and nani is used in chants, songs, and place names. The name is a literal word name, not a shortened form of another name.
In Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, and Gujarati, nānī (नानी / نانی) means "maternal grandmother." That word is a kinship term and is sometimes used as an affectionate form of address or nickname. It is a separate usage from the Hawaiian given name.
In Georgian, Nani (ნანი) is a feminine given name, usually explained as a diminutive of Nana. The meaning of the Georgian name is not established, so it should not be assigned the Hawaiian meaning.
Nani Name History & Origins
Hawaiian Nani developed from the ordinary Hawaiian word nani, which Hawaiian dictionaries record as a common word for beauty and a term of praise. In Hawaiian tradition, word names are common, and nani appears in songs and poetic descriptions of places and people. As a given name, Nani is used in Hawaii and in other places where Hawaiian names have been adopted.
The South Asian nānī has a separate history. It belongs to the Indo-Aryan kinship vocabulary for grandparents and is used in Hindi-, Urdu-, Punjabi-, and Gujarati-speaking communities. It is not related to the Hawaiian word, despite the identical spelling in English.
Georgian Nani belongs to Georgian naming tradition, where it is often a short form of Nana. Georgian has its own stock of native and adopted names, and the similarity to Hawaiian Nani is coincidental. The deeper origin of Georgian Nana remains uncertain.
How Popular is the Name Nani?
Nani 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 #3,856 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 | #5,186 | 25 | 0.0016% |
| 2024 | #5,089 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 2023 | #4,333 | 33 | 0.0021% |
| 2022 | #4,865 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 2021 | #3,856 | 39 | 0.0024% |
| 2020 | #4,722 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 2019 | #3,981 | 37 | 0.0022% |
| 2018 | #7,016 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2017 | #7,012 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2016 | #5,930 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2015 | #7,887 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2014 | #5,747 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2013 | #6,649 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2012 | #9,542 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2011 | #8,498 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2010 | #8,177 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2009 | #9,255 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2008 | #10,581 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2007 | #6,033 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2006 | #9,730 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2005 | #6,742 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2004 | #7,716 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2003 | #7,877 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2000 | #14,463 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #15,835 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #15,377 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1995 | #12,852 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1992 | #14,796 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #9,111 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1987 | #10,796 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #9,240 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1985 | #11,869 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #11,586 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1981 | #9,954 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1980 | #11,570 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1979 | #8,665 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1978 | #10,855 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1977 | #7,332 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1976 | #7,053 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1975 | #6,918 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1974 | #6,658 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1969 | #5,813 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1968 | #6,771 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1965 | #4,420 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #5,322 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1963 | #5,171 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1962 | #4,776 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1961 | #7,237 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1959 | #6,030 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1958 | #4,118 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1957 | #4,453 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1955 | #5,655 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1950 | #5,120 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1944 | #4,409 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1922 | #5,563 | 5 | 0.0004% |
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 Nani Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a vivid imagination who can bring inspired messages to the world. You like to enjoy the pleasures of life, and when self is overcome, you can rise to the heights. You have an ability to avoid trouble - that is why you often fails to learn from experiences. You are restless, sociable people-oriented, a lover of change, and a seeker of adventure and new thrills. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Nani's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Nani's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.