Kalei
Gender-neutral name · American · Hawaiian
Meaningthe wreath · Hawaiian
- US rank
- #8,362
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #1,395 in 2003
12 babies were named Kalei in the US in 2025. It has dropped 4,686 places in five years.
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US births per million girls, 1980–2025
US births per million boys, 1973–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Kalei you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 133,333 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Kalei, 12 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Kalei would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryKalei first shows up in US birth records in 1973, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 52 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 2003, when it ranked #1,395. Today it's #8,362, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowKalei was 7.2× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 18,519 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 133,333.
- TrendKalei has slipped 4,686 places over the last five years and now sits at #8,362. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Boy or girlKalei is given to both boys and girls: 52% of the 23 babies named Kalei in 2025 were girls. That makes it one of the names that truly works for either.
- MeaningIn Hawaiian, Kalei means “the wreath”. Our records link it to American and Hawaiian roots.
About the name Kalei
Kalei is a gender-neutral name of American and Hawaiian origin meaning “the wreath”. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with K and ending in “-lei”. US birth records list Kalei for girls from 1980 to 2025, in 43 of those 46 years. Its best year was 2003, when it ranked #1,395 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #8,362, with 12 babies. Of the 23 US babies named Kalei in 2025, 52% were girls and 48% were boys.
Origin:American namesHawaiian names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.6 | 215,517 girls |
| 1990s | 24 | 41,034 girls |
| 2000s | 49 | 20,317 girls |
| 2010s | 20 | 49,505 girls |
| 2020s | 18 | 56,285 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.3 | 786,517 boys |
| 1980s | 1.9 | 534,759 boys |
| 1990s | 0.8 | 1,298,701 boys |
| 2000s | 3.2 | 312,500 boys |
| 2010s | 4.3 | 234,742 boys |
| 2020s | 6.5 | 153,061 boys |
Other spellings of Kalei
More American names
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Girl name: Lainey · possibly light
- Unisex name: Maverick · independent, unbranded
- Girl name: Daisy · day's eye
- Girl name: Josie · he will add
- Unisex name: Kai · sea
- Unisex name: Kinsley · king's meadow
- Girl name: Sienna · from Siena
Questions about the name Kalei
What does the name Kalei mean?
Kalei means “the wreath” in Hawaiian.
What is the origin of the name Kalei?
Kalei has American, Hawaiian roots in our records. Other American names include Henry, Lainey, Maverick.
Is Kalei a boy or girl name?
Both. Kalei is used for boys and girls: in 2025, 52% of US babies named Kalei were girls.
How popular is the name Kalei?
Kalei ranked #8,362 for US girls in 2025, given to 12 babies. Its best year was 2003 (#1,395).