
The short answer
Malani is a feminine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Possibly a variant of Melanie using the Hawaiian name element lani meaning ‘heaven, sky’ (found in names such as Leilani and Kalani)." It ranked #374 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, possibly a variant of Melanie using the Hawaiian name element lani meaning ‘heaven, sky’ (found in names such as Leilani and Kalani). The entry lists its usage as English (Modern).
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Malani ranked #374 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #374 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Malani in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Malani mean?
Behind the Name does not give Malani a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: possibly a variant of Melanie using the Hawaiian name element lani meaning heaven, sky.
Is Malani a popular name?
Malani ranked #374 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Malani a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Malani appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Malani — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.