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Keani as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Keani

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The baby name Keani is a Unisex name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced keh-AH-nee (also heard as kee-AH-nee or kay-AH-nee).

Keani is Hawaiian in Origin.

Gender: Unisex
Syllables: 3.0
Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: keh-AH-nee (also heard as kee-AH-nee or kay-AH-nee)

What is the meaning of the name Keani ?

The baby name Keani is a Unisex name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced keh-AH-nee (also heard as kee-AH-nee or kay-AH-nee).

Keani is Hawaiian in Origin.

Keani is a Hawaiian given name used for all genders, built from ke “the” + ‘ani “to wave, to beckon; gentle breeze or movement.” Contemporary Hawaiian speakers often interpret it as “the soft breeze” or “graceful wave,” evoking a calm, caressing wind and elegant motion. The name aligns with the nature-rich imagery common in Hawaiian naming.

Documented in Hawaii throughout the 20th century, Keani remains uncommon outside the islands. In the continental United States it rose modestly in visibility in the 1990s–2000s alongside broader interest in Hawaiian names; it is currently used more often for girls but stays functionally unisex. Orthographic variants include Keani (standard), Ke‘ani with the ‘okina to reflect the glottal stop some speakers use, and Kiani as an anglicized spelling. Related but distinct names are Keanu (“cool breeze over the mountains”) and Keoni (Hawaiian form of John).

Keani has the following similar or variant Names

Keani – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
SG Girls 0 #632 1 18,916
LB 0 #690 1 13,263
United States Boys 2022 #904 5 7,226
United States Girls 2024 #910 7 8,487
BR Girls 0 #992 1 12,708
PE Girls 0 #1,010 1 14,861
MX Girls 0 #1,267 1 17,781

Keani is popular in 6 countries — most recent births per country:

United States
BR
LB
MX
PE

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People also ask about Keani

Keani is a unisex name, given to both boys and girls.
Keani is a 3 syllable name, pronounced keh-AH-nee (also heard as kee-AH-nee or kay-AH-nee).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Ke'ani, Keaniyah, Keanie and Kiani.
Across languages, Keani has these equivalents: Keanu (related Hawaiian name), Kiana (similar-sounding name), Keoni (Hawaiian form of John, used in similar contexts).
Somewhat — Keani ranked #904 in United States in 2022, placing it just outside the most common names.