Jelani
Boy name · #2155 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Jelani? In official American birth records, Jelani has been tracked continuously since 1973, giving it 52 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 67 baby boys were named Jelani, placing it at #2155 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1717, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 26,866 boys born in 2025 was named Jelani.
The 52-year story
Jelani first appears in the Social Security records in 1973, when 36 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1998, when 151 boys were named Jelani — good for #931 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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.
Babies named Jelani per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Jelani against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Jelani in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Jelani is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Jelani will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Jelani is most common
State-level data for Jelani is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Jelani
Statistically, parents drawn to Jelani tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kimani, Jovani, Ajani, Damani, and Yovani.
KimaniJovaniAjaniDamaniYovaniAntoniKamaniHasani
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Jelani | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 67 | #2145 |
| 2024 | 94 | #1752 |
| 2023 | 131 | #1404 |
| 2022 | 129 | #1421 |
| 2021 | 102 | #1635 |
| 2020 | 89 | #1731 |
| 2019 | 90 | #1737 |
| 2018 | 84 | #1809 |
| 2017 | 100 | #1605 |
| 2016 | 99 | #1618 |
| 2015 | 90 | #1717 |
| 2014 | 69 | #2044 |
| 2013 | 80 | #1794 |
| 2012 | 87 | #1729 |
| 2011 | 110 | #1476 |
| 2010 | 100 | #1574 |
| 2009 | 103 | #1573 |
| 2008 | 99 | #1594 |
| 2007 | 84 | #1760 |
| 2006 | 114 | #1391 |
| 2005 | 103 | #1431 |
| 2004 | 128 | #1196 |
| 2003 | 130 | #1155 |
| 2002 | 133 | #1098 |
| 2001 | 124 | #1129 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Jelani?
In official American birth records, the name Jelani first appeared in 1973 (over 52 years ago), when 36 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 52 years.
Is Jelani a popular boy name?
Jelani ranked #2155 among boys in 2025 with 67 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1717.
When was the name Jelani most popular?
Jelani peaked in 1998, when 151 American boys received the name (ranked #931 that year). Since 1998 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Jelani?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 26,866 newborn American boys was named Jelani. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.