Jelani
Boy name · #2155 in 2025 · Uniqueness 80/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Jelani against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Jelani in class?
Jelani scores 80 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. 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
Geography matters for names, and Jelani is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Jelanis were GA (8), CA (6), FL (6), NY (5), TX (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 80/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
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.