Nelani
Girl name · #5083 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Nelani? In official American birth records, Nelani has been tracked continuously since 2009, giving it 16 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 26 baby girls were named Nelani, placing it at #5083 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #10148, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 69,231 girls born in 2025 was named Nelani.
Babies named Nelani per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 16-year story
Nelani first appears in the Social Security records in 2009, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2020, when 27 girls were named Nelani — good for #4757 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nelani against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nelani in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Nelani is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Nelani will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Nelani is most common
State-level data for Nelani 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 Nelani
Statistically, parents drawn to Nelani tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Nilani, Nolani, Naelani, Layani, and Ruhani.
NilaniNolaniNaelaniLayaniRuhaniMiyaniNeilaniKayani
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nelani | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26 | #4987 |
| 2024 | 24 | #5300 |
| 2023 | 16 | #6922 |
| 2022 | 13 | #8032 |
| 2021 | 13 | #8024 |
| 2020 | 27 | #4757 |
| 2019 | 16 | #7025 |
| 2018 | 16 | #7100 |
| 2016 | 11 | #9411 |
| 2015 | 10 | #10148 |
| 2014 | 5 | #16513 |
| 2013 | 6 | #14582 |
| 2012 | 10 | #10429 |
| 2011 | 6 | #14824 |
| 2010 | 5 | #16992 |
| 2009 | 5 | #17294 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Nelani?
In official American birth records, the name Nelani first appeared in 2009 (over 16 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 16 years.
Is Nelani a popular girl name?
Nelani ranked #5083 among girls in 2025 with 26 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #10148.
When was the name Nelani most popular?
Nelani peaked in 2020, when 27 American girls received the name (ranked #4757 that year). Since 2020 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nelani?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 69,231 newborn American girls was named Nelani. 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.