Jelani
Jelani is a boy's name of African origin.
Meaning
Mighty or powerful.
Origin and history
Jelani is a masculine name of Swahili origin that translates to powerful or mighty. It gained popularity in the United States starting in the late 20th century as part of a broader interest in African heritage names. It remains a distinctive, steadily used choice for boys in the U.S.
Popularity in the United States
4,718 babies in the United States have been named Jelani since 1880. It ranks #1794 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1339.
States where it is most popular
- NY (28.8 %)
- CA (20.3 %)
- FL (10.6 %)
- GA (9.5 %)
- IL (6.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 0 |
| 1970-1980 | 387 |
| 1980-1990 | 548 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,101 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,161 |
| 2010-2019 | 909 |
| 2020-2029 | 612 |
Famous people named Jelani
- Jelani Cobb: Journalist, Author
- Jelani McCoy: Basketball player
Fun facts
- In Swahili, the name conveys physical or moral strength and authority.
- Jelani entered broader U.S. naming charts during the 1970s and maintains steady modern usage.