unisex name · in the US
Jelani
juh-LAH-nee
- Origin African American English
- Gender Unisex (US)
- Syllables 3
- Letters 6
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 6,431
France
#484
2025 births
Jelani is a unisex name in the United States, with 3 syllables. It is given to both girls and boys — about 15% of recorded births with this name are girls. In 2025 it was given to 134 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
- Jelani is a name of African American English origin.
- Peaked in 2023, when 218 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 24,741 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1973.
- 3 syllables, with the stress on syllable 2.
Jelani Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1970s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 393 |
| 1980s | 577 |
| 1990s | 1,243 |
| 2000s | 1,309 |
| 2010s | 1,107 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 1,031 |
How Popular Is Jelani?
In 2025, Jelani was given to 134 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Jelani Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
How Jelani Is Spelled
Birth registers count each spelling separately, so every one has its own ranking.
| Spelling | What it is | Births on record |
|---|---|---|
| Jélani | Jélani is a rare spelling of Jelani, written with an acute accent and recorded about 65 times, mostly in France. | 65 |
Names That Peaked Alongside Jelani
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Jelani Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Jelani over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Boys' or Girls' Name?
Jelani is used differently depending on where you are. Each figure is the share of babies given the name who were girls, over the last ten years of that country's records.
- United States Both 36% girls · 1,531 babies
- France Boys' 2% girls · 525 babies
- England & Wales Boys' 0% girls · 54 babies
How to Say Jelani
- Pronunciation juh-LAH-nee
Jelani in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
- African American English
- Jelan
Sibling Names for Jelani
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Jelani — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Jelani
How popular is the name Jelani?
In 2025, Jelani was given to 134 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Is Jelani a girl's or a boy's name?
Jelani is used for both girls and boys. About 15% of recorded births with this name are girls.
How many syllables are in Jelani?
Jelani has 3 syllables.
When was Jelani most popular?
Jelani peaked in 2023, when 218 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
Is Jelani a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Jelani currently ranks #484 in the United States. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.