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The short answer
Kehlani is a modern English feminine name, pronounced kay-LAH-nee, that Behind the Name describes as a variant of the Hawaiian names Kailani or Kalani. Kailani combines Hawaiian kai "ocean, sea" and lani "sky, heaven"; Kalani means "the heavens", from ka "the" and lani "heaven, sky, royal, majesty". Behind the Name notes that this spelling was popularized by the American singer Kehlani Parrish (born 1995), known simply as Kehlani. In the United States it ranked #149 for girls in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives Kehlani as a "Variant of Kailani or Kalani", adding that "this spelling was popularized by the American singer Kehlani Parrish (1995-), who is known simply as Kehlani". Because the entry points to two possible parents, the meaning depends on which is intended. The Kailani entry glosses the name as "From Hawaiian kai 'ocean, sea' and lani 'sky, heaven'"; the Kalani entry says it "Means 'the heavens' from Hawaiian ka 'the' and lani 'heaven, sky, royal, majesty'". Both share the element lani, so "heaven" or "sky" is the common thread whichever parent is preferred.
Editorial confidence: likely
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaiian | kai | ocean, sea (if from Kailani) |
| Hawaiian | ka | the (if from Kalani) |
| Hawaiian | lani | sky, heaven; also royal, majesty |
Competing or overlapping origins
- Variant of Kailani: Hawaiian kai "ocean, sea" + lani "sky, heaven" (behind-name-kailani).
- Variant of Kalani: Hawaiian ka "the" + lani "heaven, sky, royal, majesty", i.e. "the heavens" (behind-name-kalani).
Popularity
Kehlani ranked #149 for girls in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration). Behind the Name's own US figure for 2025 is #148, one place different; the SSA file is treated as authoritative here. The entry attributes the spelling's currency to the singer Kehlani, who was born in 1995.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #149 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Lani
Variants: Kailani, Kailany, Kaylani
Related names: Kalani
What the name feels like
Kehlani is a three-syllable, vowel-rich name with a stressed middle syllable, which gives it a lyrical, tropical feel. The -eh- spelling reads as distinctly contemporary and pop-culture-aware, in contrast to the more transparently Hawaiian Kailani.
Style tags: modern, Hawaiian roots, three syllables, celebrity-popularized, lyrical
Editorial interpretation: These style impressions are editorial judgment, not linguistic fact. Lani is offered as a natural short form based on the Hawaiian element, not as a diminutive documented in the source.
If you like this name
Names that share Kehlani's Hawaiian elements or its flowing, three-syllable sound.
Similar by origin
Similar by sound
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kehlani mean?
Kehlani is a variant of the Hawaiian names Kailani or Kalani. Kailani means "ocean, sea" plus "sky, heaven"; Kalani means "the heavens". Either way the element lani, "heaven" or "sky", is at its core.
Where does the spelling Kehlani come from?
Behind the Name says this spelling was popularized by the American singer Kehlani Parrish, born in 1995, who performs as Kehlani.
Is Kehlani a popular name?
Yes. Kehlani ranked #149 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Kehlani — supports variant-of statement, singer popularization note, pronunciation, variants, gender label.
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Kailani — supports gloss kai + lani.
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Kalani — supports gloss ka + lani, 'the heavens'.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
