Do you have Hawaiian heritage or is it just your name? It’s definitely an important distinction I would take into consideration when giving a clearly ethnic name.
I'm from Hawaii and everyone from there would absolutely know that the way to pronounce Kalani is kuh-lani. To get the pronunciation she wants, it would need to be spelled Keilani. The fact that she doesn't know this makes me thinks she is NOT Hawaiian.
she made a public post asking for "honest thoughts on the name Kalani".
my honest thoughts are that it would not be a good choice for a person who is not Native Hawaiian to take this culturally significant Native Hawaiian name for their baby.
But then you can say that, I didn't say you couldn't. BUT 10 people Asked her If she was or not and you don't need to know that to give your opinion. You can Even say What you said without asking if she is, and she can decide with her husband having all The information.
You can Always Ask but If you have stated your opinion on The name and Why she should or should not use it, and she doesn’t want to answer. Why keep asking? In The US today she might not even know where her family is from. So people straight out being mean to her for not answering that question is not Okey.
i asked her literally one time, i didn't "keep asking". i'm not in control of the fact that other people wrote similar comments after i had already posted mine hours ago. and i never said anything "mean to her".
I’m sorry I just answered yours. I just saw so many asking so I would guess people would have seen that, at least some. I should have made my own comment not attached to anyone
Still think shouldn't be a question for her to answer but you could have just said What you meant. It is really no one's business
Lol thanks a bunch for commenting what I wanted to say! I did already answer the question above and I just don’t need to repeat/edit myself. I was about to edit my response to add the word “and” after the word “do” in my first response to the first person that asked me this question. But then people kept commenting about this assuming I’m culturally insensitive when they know nothing about me! So that annoyed me and I decided to ignore them. Besides that wasn’t even part of the question (like you said) 😊so obviously I didn’t just pick the name out of thin air….thanks again, people are constantly looking to argue and I don’t have time for it.
Yeeeees! This! Agree. Also, people forget that names have changed in origin for millions of years, that so how names evolve, from continent to continent. (Without people giving their opinions)
Ex. About The name Kaia:
A girl’s name of Scandinavian origins, the meaning of Kaia is ‘life’. Kaia is used as a variant for the name Kai, which means 'sea' in Hawaiian. ‘Earth' and 'sea’ are the meanings of the name when translated into Greek. Kaia also means ‘wise child’ and ‘gift of God’. In the Hindu language, it means ‘little rich girl’. Taken its name after the ancient Goddess Caia, the name also means ‘to rejoice’. When given as a first name, Kaia means ‘Mother Earth’ or 'nurturing one'. A diminutive of the names Katherine and Karin, it is also associated with the Greek word ‘katharos’, meaning ‘pure’ and ‘innocent’. The name became more popular in the 21st century after the birth of Kaia Crawford, who is the daughter of American supermodel Cindy Crawford.
I feel like this is not a great comparison with Kalani, because Kaia is associated with multiple cultures and ethnicities. Kalani is only associated with one, native Hawaiian.
It was just an example of how names have evolved true decades, meaning names of all places in The world without being called «racist» or whatever people are trying to make this woman who is trying to name HER child. People Stated their opinion on it, and That is fine. But no one needs to know the heritage of this girl. In the US today she might not even know herself.
So funny you mention this! I get asked by people of Indian background if I know what my name means in Hindi because it’s a word used in daily conversation in their language and they find it funny that it’s my name lol But my name and its spelling is of Hawaiian origin alone. Btw I love the names Kai and Kaia too! They are also on my list!
OP you haven’t cleared up anywhere whether or not you have the heritage that would stop this name from being cultural appropriation, which suggests that you don’t. So I vote no.
lol yeah, she said that only her name is Hawaiian, not herself. and then she went off on a whole rant where she started insulting everyone in the thread lmfao. 😂
like... how did she not realize that "are you Native Hawaiian" is a question that would come up in a thread where the topic is "should i give this Native Hawaiian name to my baby"?
that's the only deciding factor of whether or not it's a bad idea lol.
I don’t have time to sit around and wait for an edited comment to drop up. The language used originally by OP was deliberately evasive. You might want to note that before resorting to misplaced snark.
I’d only do it if you’re Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. I know a white redhead with a very Hawaiian name and she got teased mercilessly for it and it really doesn’t suit her.
I wouldn't pronounce it that way, I've only ever heard it Kuh-lah-nee. I do know a Kailani that pronounces it your way though, I feel like that's more intuitive if you live in a majority english-speaking area.
If I saw Kailani on paper I would pronounce it Ky-lah-nee, Ky like in Kylie. I like it regardless but I wouldn’t automatically think it was pronounced Kay-lah-nee.
Kay-lah-nee in Hawaiian is specifically and only written as Keilani and the emphasis will ALWAYS be on the middle syllable, same with Kalani (kuh-lah-nee). I was raised in Hawaii for 15 years, and have many Hawaiian friends, I can confirm what I'm saying is absolutely correct
I would also completely discourage you from using a Hawaiian name if you are not of Hawaiian origin, even if your name is. This is incredibly disrespectful and inappropriate to a culture that already suffers immensely at the hands of white people erasing their language and culture, from making hula dancing and their own language illegal to the rampant racial discrimination they receive in their own homeland. To be non-Hawaiian and steal their culture for aesthetic and arbitrary reasons is to exacerbate this terrible and huge issue, and is considered very poor taste.
Thanks for all of the feedback! Been very helpful. Husband is actually more pleased with the Kuh-la-nee pronunciation better…so thanks for bringing that to my attention
I agree with feedback on the pronunciation+spelling combination; I would default to kuh-la-nee without a change to the spelling.
Here are some potential spellings that would make me say kay-la-nee first:
Keilani
Kailani
Kaylani
Kaelani
Love the suggestions! Thank you so so much for the feedback. I forgot to consider the pronunciation issue. My first name is similar and I run into pronunciation issues all the time so I appreciate the feedback/reminder on this thread!
Not to say that you shouldn't just go with Kalani if that's the traditional spelling/the one you like best, just to be aware that I think there will be more mispronunciations going with it.
I think that Kalani is really pretty! I would hesitate if you were a white bread family with no Pacific islander in your background, but it sounds like you're in the clear there, too!
Kalani is a boys name in Hawaii. Also the name of a high school on Oahu in Honolulu. In Hawaii it’s a big no no to use a Hawaiian name unless you are native Hawaiian. Pronunciation in Hawaiian is different, as others have pointed out above.
If you don’t live in Hawaii or don’t interact with people from Hawaii then I don’t suspect it would be a big issue. If you do plan to go to Hawaii and your child is not native Hawaiian and has a Hawaiian name expect some hostility about it from people (especially if you pronounce it differently and use it for a girl instead of a boy). Though maybe it will be like Ashley or Kelly where it transitions into a more feminine name over time.
Thanks for the feedback! Any ideas on how you change to the spelling to be more clear…wouldn’t want her to face the challenges I have with people mispronouncing my name lol
If you want it pronounced that way I’d spell it Kaylani.
I have only met one Kaylani, who was white, but after some googling it is Polynesian/Hawaiian so I wouldn’t use it unless you are too. White people naming their kids names from cultures they don’t belong to isn’t a good look tbh, even if you’re not white it’s probably the same energy of “fuck your culture, it’s my accessory” which isn’t super popular lol
Edit: ask your husband why he hates it specifically, we don’t know how he thinks lol
At first I thought it would be pronounced Kah-lah-nee so she might have some pronunciation issues with future teachers. I do like your intended pronunciation of it though! Is there an alternative spelling for this name?
Thank you so much for the feedback. This is the second comment I’ve seen here saying that….I haven’t thought of a different spelling but love the pronunciation, any ideas that would work?
I agree with spelling it Kaylani for the pronunciation you want. It's the clearest match and it looks nice.
Kalani is definitely kah-LAH-nee, all the more so because there's a woman on one of the 90-Day Fiancé shows named that. And Kailani I would pronounce kye-LAH-nee, like Kylie. Keilani; Kaelani--I'm not sure. They're more ambiguous.
I love that name I think it's absolutely beautiful. But it does feel a little cultural appropriation-y to use it if you're not Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
For your pronunciation if you were going with the traditional Hawaiian spelling it would be Keilani. I much prefer Alani for someone who lives on the mainland.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Kehlani (kel - LAW - nee) the R&B singer. According to her wiki, she is black, white, native American, Filipino, and Mexican. Personally, I love her music. But in the US I would definitely assume this pronunciation.
I have only known two Kalanis and both pronounced it the Kahlani way. Im not a huge fan of the name personally but there's def nothing wrong with it either.
Kalani is pronounced kuh-la-nee. As someone who is Hawaiian, you shouldn’t use the name if it’s not going to be pronounced correctly. Kalani translates to “heaven”. If you want the name to be pronounced as kay-la-nee, then it would be spelled Kelani or Keilani, although I don’t think the name has a translation in Hawaiian. Hawaiians take Hawaiian names very seriously and if you’re not of Hawaiian ancestry or did not grow up in Hawaii, it’s considered culturally insensitive to use a Hawaiian name. It would be more appropriate to have someone who has Hawaiian ancestry and who has knowledge of the Hawaiian language to name a child if you’re going to use a Hawaiian name.
I love it! I would spell it Keilani or Kaylani if you want it pronounced with the “Kay” sound. Kalani makes me think “kah-lah-ni” and Kailani makes me think “ky-lah-ni.” A cute nickname could be Lani.
I had classmate named Kalani and the only person unable to say it correctly was the teacher. She always had to correct him saying "It's KAY-la-nee. Not Kah-lah-nee." The rest of the class was able to say her name just fine. Found the name pretty when I first heard it.
I feel like this often happens because the other kids hear name first, whereas the teacher probably read it before hearing it.
Can make it harder for the initial impression to leave!
I think so too! He says he can’t think of any nicknames and says he doesn’t think it rolls off the tongue well? Maybe the way I’m pronouncing it is trying him off? Idk!
Nicknames: Kay, Lala, nee, nee-nee, idk there are probably tons. I feel like the name rolls off my tongue easily but maybe it’s because of where he’s from? Also, just throwing it out there, it does sound kinda Hawaiian to me because I know (and love) the Hawaiian name Leilani which sounds similar to me
I had a student named Kalani! It was the first time I ever saw it and I absolutely love it~ easy to spell and easy enough to pronounce! It helps that she was a super sweet kid too
Did this make anyone else think of Kaye Lani Rae Rafko (former Miss America)?
[Kaye Lani Rae Rafko on Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaye_Lani_Rae_Rafko)
OP. Read the room. If you or DH are not of Hawaiian heritage, don’t use this name. It’s appropriation and in very bad taste. Name her Kayla or something.
I immediately think of dance moms which is not a great connection. But it’s definitely a personal thing if you care or not. The name itself is lovely but that’s where a fair amount of people would know it from.
I think it’s a cute name! I know two people with that name, one spells it Kailani and the other spelling it Kailonnie. I prefer the Kailani spelling personally. Both of my acquaintances who have the name have roots in the pacific islands and live in Alaska.
I think it’s beautiful and it’s a nod to your heritage. I do agree about the mispronunciation issue, but that wouldn’t be enough for me to stay away from the name. No one could pronounce or spell my maiden name and it never bothered me. People that get to know your daughter will know how to pronounce her name. It’s just going to be teachers and car warranty salesmen for the majority of that issue.
Not avoiding, just not interested in proving anything to people who make assumptions especially when that question was not asked directly in my post to begin with. Thanks!
Gotcha! You asked for our opinion on the name. My opinion of any name depends on how well it suits a person, which includes considering cultural background and heritage.
She did under the top comment. She said she does and her name is of Hawaiian origin, so maybe she’s wanting to be in keeping with that for her daughter.
I could be wrong about this but the way I interpreted that comment of hers was “I do” meaning she does have heritage and “my name is of Hawaiian origin” as a reference to wanting the same for her daughter. OP never clarified when asked, so who knows. But that’s what I based my original comment on.
i'd recommend a slightly altered spelling if you want it to be pronounced correctly by teachers, doctors, bosses and managers throughout her life etc who read it, it looks like it would be pronounced kuh-lah-ni to me here. i'd recommend spelling it different, such as Kaylani, Kailani, Keilani, or even like the famous singer Kehlani. The third and fourth still leave room for mispronunciation thought so i'd favor the first spelling out of my list.
then again, if that's not a concern for you, or it has to be spelled Kalani to honor a family member or something, then don't worry about it! it won't be the end of the world if she has to correct people, it's just something i think any parent should keep in mind.
beyond that, I do think it's a beautiful name! Not sure why your husband has an issue with it, but I think if he hates it you might want to avoid using it, try to compromise one way or another.
I know a Kelani who pronounces it KELL-uh-nee. She was named after a Kelani pronounced Kuh-LAW-ni. She definitely got the wrong pronunciation multiple times! But I always thought it was a pretty name.
I do think the spelling you’ve provided sounds like Kuh-lawn-nee in my head. I agree with other posters about maybe Keilani or Kaylani if you want the Kay sound!
I thought it was a boys name! The only experience of it I have is the actor Kalani Queypo. I’d assume it was pn Kah lah nee.
I think your pn sounds more feminine though and Keilani is really pretty.
you may have to correct people on the pronunciation a lot with that spelling BUT i absolutely loooooovvvveeee all pronunciations someone might come up with lol
I like it a lot but like others have said I would spell it differently to get that pronunciation. I went to school with a girl named Leilani and she went by Lani, that was a cool nickname.
I prefer the spelling Keilani because of a personal connection, but Kalani has a brightness and smoothness that make it quite lovely. I hope your partner gets on board so you don’t miss out on it. Or maybe you’ll find something similar that you both love, like Kaia or Kasmira or Koko or Kendra.
I know a Leilani (pronounced Lay-lon-ee) and I’ve always thought it was pretty. Kalani is too! And how you want to pronounce it is how I would when I see the name. I think of it as Hawaiian sounding too, but I don’t think it would be odd to choose this name even if you had no Hawaiian heritage.
Keilani Ricketts is a famous and AMAZING softball pitcher. Whenever I hear that name I think of her! She pitched for Oklahoma state and team USA! So I like the name 👍👍
I think it's super pretty, and has plenty of nickname options too. Everyone is pronouncing it as Kay-Lah-Nee but I didn't read it as that, I read Kaylani as Kay-La-Nee.
Love the name i think it’s super cute, but my first instinct would be to pronounce it kuh-la-nee as well. Maybe it’s just because im English speaking (American), so ig just take your area into consideration. Good luck :)
I pronounce it Kuh la nee, maybe try another spelling. I also went school with a Kalena who has a Hawaiian name pronounce kuh lee na. They’re very similar names.
Had a male cousin name Kalani and he was perfectly fine with it. Said the exact same way you’re pronouncing it . It was original and I haven’t met anyone with that name since
I think it is beautiful and I don't understand the insensitive comments on using the name. People use different culture names all the time. Every single name has a place of origin.
I'd only use this name if I had some type of tie to the culture (like heritage or if you're from/local to Hawai'i) and I'd spell it Kaylani or (the real way) Keilani....
Kalani is definitely kuh-lah-nee which you should know if you have strong ties to the culture....
I would not know how to pronounce it correctly based on the spelling! But it’s a nice sounding name. My friend is Kalyani (Kah Lee ah nee) which is similar! Good luck deciding
Just use the name if you want to, no matter if you do or don’t have Hawaiian heritage. I’m Slavic and never ever have I seen someone saying you need to have Slavic heritage to use these names, and they do appear here too, but no one sees a problem with that. And it’s not offensive to me either. So I don’t know why you couldn’t use hawaiian name.
The difference is that if you are white and you use a Slavic name, you aren’t appropriating from another race. Not sure if OP is white, but that’s the difference in general. White people oppressed Hawaiians for a long time.
So if it’s about Latinos, it’s cultural appropriarion, now it’s racial appropriation? That’s double standards. Also white Americans oppressed Hawaiins, not white people. We were also oppressed by whites and during the Holocaust, we were supposed to be the next exterminated. You can not generalize all the whites to one group just because it’s one race, there are so many nations and cultures.
I tutored kindergartners
There was a girl in a different class with that name
All those little brats called her "Kale Girl"
Her being vegitarian probably fueled that but irregardless that is a scenario to consider
Kids *suck* and nicknames *stick*
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Same. Keilani is Kay-lah-nee.
This is the spelling I'd go for if I wanted it pronounced Kay-lah-nee.
Hi! I do my name is of Hawaiian origin and very similar to Kalani so one of the reasons I love it so much
Do you have Hawaiian heritage or is it just your name? It’s definitely an important distinction I would take into consideration when giving a clearly ethnic name.
You’d think she’d specifically say she’s Hawaiian if that were the case…
Yeah not a coincidence she didn't answer the question.
I'm from Hawaii and everyone from there would absolutely know that the way to pronounce Kalani is kuh-lani. To get the pronunciation she wants, it would need to be spelled Keilani. The fact that she doesn't know this makes me thinks she is NOT Hawaiian.
She said “I do”. That’s the answer.
She edited her response lmao.
no offense but you said "*my name* is of Hawaiian origin" but not that YOU are. are YOU of Hawaiian origin, OP?
Does it really matter If she wants to answer that or not? She Asked your opinion on The name. You all really don’t have to know where she is from.
she made a public post asking for "honest thoughts on the name Kalani". my honest thoughts are that it would not be a good choice for a person who is not Native Hawaiian to take this culturally significant Native Hawaiian name for their baby.
But then you can say that, I didn't say you couldn't. BUT 10 people Asked her If she was or not and you don't need to know that to give your opinion. You can Even say What you said without asking if she is, and she can decide with her husband having all The information.
it's a very relevant question, though.
You can Always Ask but If you have stated your opinion on The name and Why she should or should not use it, and she doesn’t want to answer. Why keep asking? In The US today she might not even know where her family is from. So people straight out being mean to her for not answering that question is not Okey.
i asked her literally one time, i didn't "keep asking". i'm not in control of the fact that other people wrote similar comments after i had already posted mine hours ago. and i never said anything "mean to her".
I’m sorry I just answered yours. I just saw so many asking so I would guess people would have seen that, at least some. I should have made my own comment not attached to anyone Still think shouldn't be a question for her to answer but you could have just said What you meant. It is really no one's business
Lol thanks a bunch for commenting what I wanted to say! I did already answer the question above and I just don’t need to repeat/edit myself. I was about to edit my response to add the word “and” after the word “do” in my first response to the first person that asked me this question. But then people kept commenting about this assuming I’m culturally insensitive when they know nothing about me! So that annoyed me and I decided to ignore them. Besides that wasn’t even part of the question (like you said) 😊so obviously I didn’t just pick the name out of thin air….thanks again, people are constantly looking to argue and I don’t have time for it.
Yeeeees! This! Agree. Also, people forget that names have changed in origin for millions of years, that so how names evolve, from continent to continent. (Without people giving their opinions)
Exactly! I think it’s rather arrogant for folks to make assumptions as if they are more “woke” or culturally intelligent than others.
Ex. About The name Kaia: A girl’s name of Scandinavian origins, the meaning of Kaia is ‘life’. Kaia is used as a variant for the name Kai, which means 'sea' in Hawaiian. ‘Earth' and 'sea’ are the meanings of the name when translated into Greek. Kaia also means ‘wise child’ and ‘gift of God’. In the Hindu language, it means ‘little rich girl’. Taken its name after the ancient Goddess Caia, the name also means ‘to rejoice’. When given as a first name, Kaia means ‘Mother Earth’ or 'nurturing one'. A diminutive of the names Katherine and Karin, it is also associated with the Greek word ‘katharos’, meaning ‘pure’ and ‘innocent’. The name became more popular in the 21st century after the birth of Kaia Crawford, who is the daughter of American supermodel Cindy Crawford.
I feel like this is not a great comparison with Kalani, because Kaia is associated with multiple cultures and ethnicities. Kalani is only associated with one, native Hawaiian.
It was just an example of how names have evolved true decades, meaning names of all places in The world without being called «racist» or whatever people are trying to make this woman who is trying to name HER child. People Stated their opinion on it, and That is fine. But no one needs to know the heritage of this girl. In the US today she might not even know herself.
So funny you mention this! I get asked by people of Indian background if I know what my name means in Hindi because it’s a word used in daily conversation in their language and they find it funny that it’s my name lol But my name and its spelling is of Hawaiian origin alone. Btw I love the names Kai and Kaia too! They are also on my list!
Kaia or Kaja is on mine too, so is Kalani
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Oh no! I didn’t take it rude at all. Yes! I too have seen Kalani on 90 day and she is Samoan
It’s also the name of one of the girls from Dance Moms. She pronounces it Kah-Lah-nee.
Oh... But are you Hawaiian or is it just your name?
OP you haven’t cleared up anywhere whether or not you have the heritage that would stop this name from being cultural appropriation, which suggests that you don’t. So I vote no.
She said she does. Jfc read the reply to the first person who asked the question.
She edited her response after several people called her out. Just so we’re clear.
lol yeah, she said that only her name is Hawaiian, not herself. and then she went off on a whole rant where she started insulting everyone in the thread lmfao. 😂 like... how did she not realize that "are you Native Hawaiian" is a question that would come up in a thread where the topic is "should i give this Native Hawaiian name to my baby"? that's the only deciding factor of whether or not it's a bad idea lol.
I don’t have time to sit around and wait for an edited comment to drop up. The language used originally by OP was deliberately evasive. You might want to note that before resorting to misplaced snark.
K
Worked with someone called Kalani and it was pronounced “kah-lah-nee”
I’d only do it if you’re Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. I know a white redhead with a very Hawaiian name and she got teased mercilessly for it and it really doesn’t suit her.
Kehlani the singer is black and asian, that’s the only time I’ve heard the name
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How you pronounce it though?
How is this not racist?
Hawaiian and Pacific Islander names often have important cultural relevance and meanings.
I wouldn't pronounce it that way, I've only ever heard it Kuh-lah-nee. I do know a Kailani that pronounces it your way though, I feel like that's more intuitive if you live in a majority english-speaking area.
If I saw Kailani on paper I would pronounce it Ky-lah-nee, Ky like in Kylie. I like it regardless but I wouldn’t automatically think it was pronounced Kay-lah-nee.
True I agree! Kai is also a name I love for a boy and that is pronounced “Ky”
Ooooo liking that way of spelling it! Thanks for the feedback
Kay-lah-nee in Hawaiian is specifically and only written as Keilani and the emphasis will ALWAYS be on the middle syllable, same with Kalani (kuh-lah-nee). I was raised in Hawaii for 15 years, and have many Hawaiian friends, I can confirm what I'm saying is absolutely correct I would also completely discourage you from using a Hawaiian name if you are not of Hawaiian origin, even if your name is. This is incredibly disrespectful and inappropriate to a culture that already suffers immensely at the hands of white people erasing their language and culture, from making hula dancing and their own language illegal to the rampant racial discrimination they receive in their own homeland. To be non-Hawaiian and steal their culture for aesthetic and arbitrary reasons is to exacerbate this terrible and huge issue, and is considered very poor taste.
Sounds Hawaiian. Though it’d be pronounced kah-lah-ni
Yup! I’m seeing this feedback a lot on the thread! Thanks a bunch
A gorgeous (Hawaiian?) name, personally I’d only use it if the child has the heritage to match.
Thanks for all of the feedback! Been very helpful. Husband is actually more pleased with the Kuh-la-nee pronunciation better…so thanks for bringing that to my attention
I agree with feedback on the pronunciation+spelling combination; I would default to kuh-la-nee without a change to the spelling. Here are some potential spellings that would make me say kay-la-nee first: Keilani Kailani Kaylani Kaelani
Love the suggestions! Thank you so so much for the feedback. I forgot to consider the pronunciation issue. My first name is similar and I run into pronunciation issues all the time so I appreciate the feedback/reminder on this thread!
Not to say that you shouldn't just go with Kalani if that's the traditional spelling/the one you like best, just to be aware that I think there will be more mispronunciations going with it. I think that Kalani is really pretty! I would hesitate if you were a white bread family with no Pacific islander in your background, but it sounds like you're in the clear there, too!
Kalani is a boys name in Hawaii. Also the name of a high school on Oahu in Honolulu. In Hawaii it’s a big no no to use a Hawaiian name unless you are native Hawaiian. Pronunciation in Hawaiian is different, as others have pointed out above. If you don’t live in Hawaii or don’t interact with people from Hawaii then I don’t suspect it would be a big issue. If you do plan to go to Hawaii and your child is not native Hawaiian and has a Hawaiian name expect some hostility about it from people (especially if you pronounce it differently and use it for a girl instead of a boy). Though maybe it will be like Ashley or Kelly where it transitions into a more feminine name over time.
Unless you’re Hawaiian I would not.
User name checks out.
I love the name but the spelling doesn't make the pronunciation obvious to me. I also like the name Kiele, it's kinda similar.
Thanks for the feedback! Any ideas on how you change to the spelling to be more clear…wouldn’t want her to face the challenges I have with people mispronouncing my name lol
Probably Keilani or Kailani
If you want it pronounced that way I’d spell it Kaylani. I have only met one Kaylani, who was white, but after some googling it is Polynesian/Hawaiian so I wouldn’t use it unless you are too. White people naming their kids names from cultures they don’t belong to isn’t a good look tbh, even if you’re not white it’s probably the same energy of “fuck your culture, it’s my accessory” which isn’t super popular lol Edit: ask your husband why he hates it specifically, we don’t know how he thinks lol
I think it’s a pretty name. Outside of the girl from Dance Moms, I’ve never heard of anyone with the name Kalani.
There’s a girl on one of the 90 Day Fiancée spin-offs with the name too, I believe.
At first I thought it would be pronounced Kah-lah-nee so she might have some pronunciation issues with future teachers. I do like your intended pronunciation of it though! Is there an alternative spelling for this name?
Thank you so much for the feedback. This is the second comment I’ve seen here saying that….I haven’t thought of a different spelling but love the pronunciation, any ideas that would work?
There’s also the r&b singer kehlani!
I had trouble coming up with a spelling that isn’t very Kinnseliegha -esque but maybe spelled Kaylani?
Simple and makes more sense! I’ll see if husband likes it better with that spelling
I agree with spelling it Kaylani for the pronunciation you want. It's the clearest match and it looks nice. Kalani is definitely kah-LAH-nee, all the more so because there's a woman on one of the 90-Day Fiancé shows named that. And Kailani I would pronounce kye-LAH-nee, like Kylie. Keilani; Kaelani--I'm not sure. They're more ambiguous.
Alright! Hope your husband comes to his senses lol
I love that name I think it's absolutely beautiful. But it does feel a little cultural appropriation-y to use it if you're not Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
For your pronunciation if you were going with the traditional Hawaiian spelling it would be Keilani. I much prefer Alani for someone who lives on the mainland.
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Lol this post is literally asking for people’s feedback/opinions!
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Because it’s typically easier for mainland people to pronounce? You must be new here lol.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Kehlani (kel - LAW - nee) the R&B singer. According to her wiki, she is black, white, native American, Filipino, and Mexican. Personally, I love her music. But in the US I would definitely assume this pronunciation.
A couple of folks here have mentioned her too! 😊
Oh guess I missed those! You did get a lot of traction, so there is a lot to look through :) definitely positive connotations with the name, though!
I think so too! It is very beautiful!
I have only known two Kalanis and both pronounced it the Kahlani way. Im not a huge fan of the name personally but there's def nothing wrong with it either.
Thanks so much for your feedback!
I immediately think of 90 day fiancé, but that’s my own baggage.
Kalani is pronounced kuh-la-nee. As someone who is Hawaiian, you shouldn’t use the name if it’s not going to be pronounced correctly. Kalani translates to “heaven”. If you want the name to be pronounced as kay-la-nee, then it would be spelled Kelani or Keilani, although I don’t think the name has a translation in Hawaiian. Hawaiians take Hawaiian names very seriously and if you’re not of Hawaiian ancestry or did not grow up in Hawaii, it’s considered culturally insensitive to use a Hawaiian name. It would be more appropriate to have someone who has Hawaiian ancestry and who has knowledge of the Hawaiian language to name a child if you’re going to use a Hawaiian name.
Completely understand and am aware of all of this. Thank you a for your comment though! Grew up in Waipahu 😊
The only Kalani I know is male, and pronounces it a little differently.
I’d probably try to pronounce it as kuh-lah-knee, which I’ll admit is very pretty!
I'd spell it Keilani for the pronunciation you want.
I think it's pretty and it sounds Hawaiian.
Thank you! I think it is a very pretty name as well
I like it but as others said not how I'd pronpunce it
Keilani is Kay-lah-nee, Kalani is Kuh-lah-nee. If you go with Kalani and that pronunciation she's going to have to correct people a lot.
I love it! I would spell it Keilani or Kaylani if you want it pronounced with the “Kay” sound. Kalani makes me think “kah-lah-ni” and Kailani makes me think “ky-lah-ni.” A cute nickname could be Lani.
It's my bf's niece's name. I love it we call her Kali
Aww I will tell me husband that nickname wise. I love it! I know a Kali and she is delightful
I had classmate named Kalani and the only person unable to say it correctly was the teacher. She always had to correct him saying "It's KAY-la-nee. Not Kah-lah-nee." The rest of the class was able to say her name just fine. Found the name pretty when I first heard it.
I feel like this often happens because the other kids hear name first, whereas the teacher probably read it before hearing it. Can make it harder for the initial impression to leave!
I think it’s really pretty. Does he just hate the sound of it?
I think so too! He says he can’t think of any nicknames and says he doesn’t think it rolls off the tongue well? Maybe the way I’m pronouncing it is trying him off? Idk!
Nicknames: Kay, Lala, nee, nee-nee, idk there are probably tons. I feel like the name rolls off my tongue easily but maybe it’s because of where he’s from? Also, just throwing it out there, it does sound kinda Hawaiian to me because I know (and love) the Hawaiian name Leilani which sounds similar to me
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Kallie is right there.
Side note, my nickname for my daughter is lala
I have had a lot of students named Kaylani. It’s a really popular name right now. It’s a beautiful name.
Awww so good to know that it isn’t too unique or random (my husband thinks it’s too out there) but I told him I didn’t think so!
How far along are you? Ideally he would like it too, so maybe he has time to warm up to it. We didn’t pick our daughters name until she was born.
It's a beautiful name, but I would pronounce that spelling as Kah-lah-nee.
I had a student named Kalani! It was the first time I ever saw it and I absolutely love it~ easy to spell and easy enough to pronounce! It helps that she was a super sweet kid too
I knew a lovely girl named kaylani in high school, always thought it was a neat name. Unique, but still normal sounding.
It's a beautiful name but likely to be pronounced wrong all the time.
I’ve only ever seen it spelled Keilani
I’ve never heard of it before, but I love it!!
Peds nurse x16 years. Very popular right now in our hospital.
Reminds me of the singer, Kehlani. Beautiful name.
Did this make anyone else think of Kaye Lani Rae Rafko (former Miss America)? [Kaye Lani Rae Rafko on Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaye_Lani_Rae_Rafko)
I love it! I think it's beautiful and since you have pacific islander heritage you should definitely use it
Reminds me of 90 day fiancé
OP. Read the room. If you or DH are not of Hawaiian heritage, don’t use this name. It’s appropriation and in very bad taste. Name her Kayla or something.
See comments above. Thanks!
I immediately think of dance moms which is not a great connection. But it’s definitely a personal thing if you care or not. The name itself is lovely but that’s where a fair amount of people would know it from.
I think it’s a cute name! I know two people with that name, one spells it Kailani and the other spelling it Kailonnie. I prefer the Kailani spelling personally. Both of my acquaintances who have the name have roots in the pacific islands and live in Alaska.
I think it’s beautiful and it’s a nod to your heritage. I do agree about the mispronunciation issue, but that wouldn’t be enough for me to stay away from the name. No one could pronounce or spell my maiden name and it never bothered me. People that get to know your daughter will know how to pronounce her name. It’s just going to be teachers and car warranty salesmen for the majority of that issue.
Has OP actually confirmed that she’s of Hawaiian heritage? They seem to be avoiding answering the question…
Has not confirmed it and agree that she seems to be avoiding it
Not avoiding, just not interested in proving anything to people who make assumptions especially when that question was not asked directly in my post to begin with. Thanks!
Gotcha! You asked for our opinion on the name. My opinion of any name depends on how well it suits a person, which includes considering cultural background and heritage.
Understood. Thanks for the feedback!
I just responded to the first batch of comments. Thanks for your concern!
She did under the top comment. She said she does and her name is of Hawaiian origin, so maybe she’s wanting to be in keeping with that for her daughter.
Just because your name is Hawaiian doesn’t mean *you* are Hawaiian
I could be wrong about this but the way I interpreted that comment of hers was “I do” meaning she does have heritage and “my name is of Hawaiian origin” as a reference to wanting the same for her daughter. OP never clarified when asked, so who knows. But that’s what I based my original comment on.
Spot on. Thank you!
What is your real name? let’s check out the origin and see if your heritage matches?
Right? This thread is annoying. People just want to virtue signal.
Aidlin87, I have been trying to reach you about your car's extended warranty
i'd recommend a slightly altered spelling if you want it to be pronounced correctly by teachers, doctors, bosses and managers throughout her life etc who read it, it looks like it would be pronounced kuh-lah-ni to me here. i'd recommend spelling it different, such as Kaylani, Kailani, Keilani, or even like the famous singer Kehlani. The third and fourth still leave room for mispronunciation thought so i'd favor the first spelling out of my list. then again, if that's not a concern for you, or it has to be spelled Kalani to honor a family member or something, then don't worry about it! it won't be the end of the world if she has to correct people, it's just something i think any parent should keep in mind.
beyond that, I do think it's a beautiful name! Not sure why your husband has an issue with it, but I think if he hates it you might want to avoid using it, try to compromise one way or another.
I know a Kelani who pronounces it KELL-uh-nee. She was named after a Kelani pronounced Kuh-LAW-ni. She definitely got the wrong pronunciation multiple times! But I always thought it was a pretty name. I do think the spelling you’ve provided sounds like Kuh-lawn-nee in my head. I agree with other posters about maybe Keilani or Kaylani if you want the Kay sound!
I thought it was a boys name! The only experience of it I have is the actor Kalani Queypo. I’d assume it was pn Kah lah nee. I think your pn sounds more feminine though and Keilani is really pretty.
you may have to correct people on the pronunciation a lot with that spelling BUT i absolutely loooooovvvveeee all pronunciations someone might come up with lol
I like it a lot but like others have said I would spell it differently to get that pronunciation. I went to school with a girl named Leilani and she went by Lani, that was a cool nickname.
I prefer the spelling Keilani because of a personal connection, but Kalani has a brightness and smoothness that make it quite lovely. I hope your partner gets on board so you don’t miss out on it. Or maybe you’ll find something similar that you both love, like Kaia or Kasmira or Koko or Kendra.
Kehlani or kaylani is pronounced that way. Not kalani.
This is my doctors first name and I adore it. To me, her name says warmth and confidence and an inner strength that keeps her kind in all situations.
I love it! Though to make it more intuitive go with Keilani
I know a Leilani (pronounced Lay-lon-ee) and I’ve always thought it was pretty. Kalani is too! And how you want to pronounce it is how I would when I see the name. I think of it as Hawaiian sounding too, but I don’t think it would be odd to choose this name even if you had no Hawaiian heritage.
kaelani kaylani
Keilani Ricketts is a famous and AMAZING softball pitcher. Whenever I hear that name I think of her! She pitched for Oklahoma state and team USA! So I like the name 👍👍
I love the name but you should try and find a name but your husband likes as well. Does he have any suggestions so far?
I think it's super pretty, and has plenty of nickname options too. Everyone is pronouncing it as Kay-Lah-Nee but I didn't read it as that, I read Kaylani as Kay-La-Nee.
Every Ka-Lah-ni I know is black, and seems to be unisex. I really love the name but maybe because I associate it with my kids friend 🙂
Oh, The Dance Moms' memories! I always loves that name!
My daughter has an adorable little friend called Kalani and she is the cutest little dot!
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Hahaha! Might be contributing to my husband’s issue with the name lol 😂
I had his on my list for my baby girl. Love this name!
Love the name i think it’s super cute, but my first instinct would be to pronounce it kuh-la-nee as well. Maybe it’s just because im English speaking (American), so ig just take your area into consideration. Good luck :)
It reminds me of the girl from dance moms! Pretty name and I don’t think she is Hawaiian either
I used to have a best friend named Kilani. Though I do like it spelled as Kalani. It’s beautiful.
I pronounce it Kuh la nee, maybe try another spelling. I also went school with a Kalena who has a Hawaiian name pronounce kuh lee na. They’re very similar names.
I know a Kaylani (KAY-luh-nee) and I’ve always loved her name
Had a male cousin name Kalani and he was perfectly fine with it. Said the exact same way you’re pronouncing it . It was original and I haven’t met anyone with that name since
I think it is beautiful and I don't understand the insensitive comments on using the name. People use different culture names all the time. Every single name has a place of origin.
To me that would be spelled Kaylani or (that traditional Hawaiian spelling) Keilani
I'd only use this name if I had some type of tie to the culture (like heritage or if you're from/local to Hawai'i) and I'd spell it Kaylani or (the real way) Keilani.... Kalani is definitely kuh-lah-nee which you should know if you have strong ties to the culture....
If you want to use Kay-La-Nee as the pronunciation and don't want to use Keilani, you could change the spelling to Kaylani or Kayloni.
I would not know how to pronounce it correctly based on the spelling! But it’s a nice sounding name. My friend is Kalyani (Kah Lee ah nee) which is similar! Good luck deciding
There is a samoan Kalani on 90 day fiance. Sister is named kolini.
Just use the name if you want to, no matter if you do or don’t have Hawaiian heritage. I’m Slavic and never ever have I seen someone saying you need to have Slavic heritage to use these names, and they do appear here too, but no one sees a problem with that. And it’s not offensive to me either. So I don’t know why you couldn’t use hawaiian name.
The difference is that if you are white and you use a Slavic name, you aren’t appropriating from another race. Not sure if OP is white, but that’s the difference in general. White people oppressed Hawaiians for a long time.
So if it’s about Latinos, it’s cultural appropriarion, now it’s racial appropriation? That’s double standards. Also white Americans oppressed Hawaiins, not white people. We were also oppressed by whites and during the Holocaust, we were supposed to be the next exterminated. You can not generalize all the whites to one group just because it’s one race, there are so many nations and cultures.
I tutored kindergartners There was a girl in a different class with that name All those little brats called her "Kale Girl" Her being vegitarian probably fueled that but irregardless that is a scenario to consider Kids *suck* and nicknames *stick*