Elani
Girl name · #846 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Elani? In official American birth records, Elani has been tracked continuously since 1986, giving it 39 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 322 baby girls were named Elani, placing it at #846 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2685, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 5,590 girls born in 2025 was named Elani.
Babies named Elani per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 39-year story
Elani first appears in the Social Security records in 1986, when 5 girls received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 322 babies and a rank of #844. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Elani against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Elani in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Elani is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Elani is most common
Geography matters for names, and Elani is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Elani is most common in IL (0.4 per 1,000), TX (0.4 per 1,000), GA (0.3 per 1,000), NC (0.3 per 1,000), NJ (0.3 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Elani is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Elani
Statistically, parents drawn to Elani tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Eliani, Avani, Jalani, Naylani, and Laylani.
ElianiAvaniJalaniNaylaniLaylaniLeylaniKahlaniEhlani
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Elani | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 322 | #844 |
| 2024 | 260 | #995 |
| 2023 | 190 | #1232 |
| 2022 | 216 | #1132 |
| 2021 | 189 | #1242 |
| 2020 | 167 | #1318 |
| 2019 | 118 | #1745 |
| 2018 | 104 | #1915 |
| 2017 | 74 | #2432 |
| 2016 | 72 | #2502 |
| 2015 | 66 | #2685 |
| 2014 | 57 | #2969 |
| 2013 | 53 | #3076 |
| 2012 | 43 | #3644 |
| 2011 | 53 | #3132 |
| 2010 | 55 | #3044 |
| 2009 | 47 | #3460 |
| 2008 | 36 | #4268 |
| 2007 | 36 | #4213 |
| 2006 | 32 | #4463 |
| 2005 | 28 | #4704 |
| 2004 | 32 | #4287 |
| 2003 | 35 | #3869 |
| 2002 | 19 | #5897 |
| 2001 | 28 | #4321 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Elani?
In official American birth records, the name Elani first appeared in 1986 (over 39 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 39 years.
Is Elani a popular girl name?
Elani ranked #846 among girls in 2025 with 322 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2685.
When was the name Elani most popular?
Elani peaked in 2025, when 322 American girls received the name (ranked #844 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Elani?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 5,590 newborn American girls was named Elani. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.