What Does the Name Keilani Mean?
Keilani combines the Hawaiian elements kei, meaning "glorious" or "dignified," and lani, meaning "heaven," "sky," or "royal majesty." Together the name is usually translated as "glorious heaven" or "heavenly."
The Origin & History of Keilani
Lani names are a distinct Hawaiian naming tradition, with lani used both as a standalone word for sky/heaven and as a suffix attached to other roots — the same pattern behind Leilani ("heavenly flowers" or "royal child") and Alani.
Cultural Reach
Keilani has spread from Hawaiian naming tradition into mainland US use over the past two decades, part of a broader wave of Polynesian-rooted names (Leilani, Kailani, Nalani) adopted by parents outside Hawaii for their sound and meaning.
Personality & Traits
With a meaning that reaches directly for the sky, Keilani carries an aspirational, bright quality — a name that wishes something expansive and dignified on the child who bears it.
Popularity as a Given Name
Keilani is well-established rather than newly trending: SSA recorded 374 girls named Keilani in the US in 2024, down from 457 in 2023, after some years of stronger use.
Nicknames & Variants
Leilani and Kailani are closely related Hawaiian names built on the same lani root. Kehlani, the stage name of singer Kehlani Parrish, is a near-homophone spelling that has boosted the sound's visibility.