Malani
Girl name · #374 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Malani? In official American birth records, Malani has been tracked continuously since 1977, giving it 48 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 822 baby girls were named Malani, placing it at #374 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1247, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,190 girls born in 2025 was named Malani.
The 48-year story
Malani first appears in the Social Security records in 1977, when 6 girls received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2024, with 943 babies and a rank of #330. 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.
Babies named Malani per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Malani against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Malani in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Malani is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Malani is most common
Geography matters for names, and Malani is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Malani is most common in LA (3.2 per 1,000), MS (2.7 per 1,000), SC (1.5 per 1,000), GA (1.1 per 1,000), AL (1.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.6 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Malani is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Malani
Statistically, parents drawn to Malani tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Milani, Kalani, Nalani, Meilani, and Jaylani.
MilaniKalaniNalaniMeilaniJaylaniKailaniKaylaniLaylani
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Malani | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 822 | #374 |
| 2024 | 943 | #330 |
| 2023 | 870 | #350 |
| 2022 | 790 | #397 |
| 2021 | 750 | #420 |
| 2020 | 618 | #494 |
| 2019 | 433 | #670 |
| 2018 | 373 | #743 |
| 2017 | 290 | #920 |
| 2016 | 210 | #1188 |
| 2015 | 196 | #1247 |
| 2014 | 103 | #1940 |
| 2013 | 83 | #2236 |
| 2012 | 117 | #1760 |
| 2011 | 104 | #1909 |
| 2010 | 70 | #2589 |
| 2009 | 58 | #2966 |
| 2008 | 32 | #4647 |
| 2007 | 34 | #4380 |
| 2006 | 41 | #3734 |
| 2005 | 48 | #3212 |
| 2004 | 19 | #6216 |
| 2003 | 24 | #5092 |
| 2002 | 14 | #7444 |
| 2001 | 11 | #8758 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Malani?
In official American birth records, the name Malani first appeared in 1977 (over 48 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 48 years.
Is Malani a popular girl name?
Malani ranked #374 among girls in 2025 with 822 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #1247.
When was the name Malani most popular?
Malani peaked in 2024, when 943 American girls received the name (ranked #330 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Malani?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,190 newborn American girls was named Malani. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.