Jelani
Boy name · #2155 in 2025 · Very rare
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: SSA.
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
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: 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.