Malani

Malani draws on the Hawaiian lani, sky or heaven, wrapped inside a soft ma- that lends it an affectionate lullaby quality. It also echoes the Swahili malani, with a sense of meadow or bright one, giving the name a quiet multicultural resonance. Three syllables glide without friction, each vowel opening into the next. Malani is a relatively new arrival on American charts, reaching the low 330s in the past few years as parents look to Polynesian and African naming traditions for fresh sound. Luminous and gentle, the name carries the hush of an evening sky just after the trade winds fall.