Elani
Girl name · #846 in 2025 · Uniqueness 32/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Elani scores 32 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "popular" band. A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Elani is most common
Geography matters for names, and Elani is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Elanis were TX (62), CA (43), FL (20), IL (19), GA (15). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 32/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "popular".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.