Is Jelani a boy or girl name?
Jelani is used for both boys and girls in close to equal numbers in the US. In 2024, 87 girls and 94 boys were named Jelani, so 48.1% were girls. Across 1880–2024, 15.8% of the 5,525 US babies named Jelani were girls.
- Boy rank, 2024
- #1,747
- Girl rank, 2024
- #2,171
- Babies named Jelani since 1973
- 5,525
- Most popular year
- 2023
- 218 babies
Boys and girls named Jelani, by decade
| Decade | Boys | Girls | Share girls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 387 | 6 | 1.5% |
| 1980s | 548 | 29 | 5% |
| 1990s | 1,101 | 142 | 11.4% |
| 2000s | 1,161 | 148 | 11.3% |
| 2010s | 909 | 198 | 17.9% |
| 2020s | 545 | 351 | 39.2% |
Every year
| Year | Boys | Boy rank | Girls | Girl rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 94 | #1,747 | 87 | #2,171 |
| 2023 | 131 | #1,404 | 87 | #2,183 |
| 2022 | 129 | #1,423 | 84 | #2,234 |
| 2021 | 102 | #1,639 | 52 | #3,134 |
| 2020 | 89 | #1,737 | 41 | #3,649 |
| 2019 | 90 | #1,739 | 40 | #3,747 |
| 2018 | 84 | #1,813 | 30 | #4,611 |
| 2017 | 100 | #1,606 | 34 | #4,253 |
| 2016 | 99 | #1,623 | 23 | #5,706 |
| 2015 | 90 | #1,725 | 16 | #7,421 |
| 2014 | 69 | #2,049 | 10 | #10,495 |
| 2013 | 80 | #1,802 | 10 | #10,574 |
| 2012 | 87 | #1,732 | 13 | #8,852 |
| 2011 | 110 | #1,479 | 13 | #8,853 |
| 2010 | 100 | #1,580 | 9 | #11,684 |
| 2009 | 103 | #1,580 | 14 | #8,637 |
| 2008 | 99 | #1,600 | 13 | #9,203 |
| 2007 | 84 | #1,763 | 13 | #9,237 |
| 2006 | 114 | #1,397 | 13 | #8,942 |
| 2005 | 103 | #1,438 | 14 | #8,081 |
| 2004 | 128 | #1,199 | 12 | #8,938 |
| 2003 | 130 | #1,156 | 25 | #5,014 |
| 2002 | 133 | #1,102 | 15 | #7,212 |
| 2001 | 124 | #1,131 | 16 | #6,766 |
| 2000 | 143 | #1,021 | 13 | #7,764 |
| 1999 | 116 | #1,138 | 8 | #10,770 |
| 1998 | 151 | #935 | 22 | #4,857 |
| 1997 | 121 | #1,053 | 19 | #5,298 |
| 1996 | 113 | #1,077 | 25 | #4,238 |
| 1995 | 112 | #1,065 | 15 | #6,086 |
| 1994 | 102 | #1,120 | 11 | #7,822 |
| 1993 | 98 | #1,138 | 14 | #6,403 |
| 1992 | 96 | #1,125 | 12 | #7,222 |
| 1991 | 110 | #1,034 | 11 | #7,625 |
| 1990 | 82 | #1,212 | 5 | #13,884 |
| 1989 | 64 | #1,375 | 6 | #11,403 |
| 1988 | 64 | #1,286 | 6 | #10,911 |
| 1987 | 62 | #1,242 | 0 | – |
| 1986 | 38 | #1,678 | 0 | – |
| 1985 | 38 | #1,655 | 0 | – |
| 1984 | 58 | #1,206 | 6 | #9,612 |
| 1983 | 38 | #1,577 | 0 | – |
| 1982 | 61 | #1,183 | 0 | – |
| 1981 | 54 | #1,252 | 5 | #11,058 |
| 1980 | 71 | #1,073 | 6 | #9,557 |
| 1979 | 66 | #1,101 | 0 | – |
| 1978 | 61 | #1,126 | 0 | – |
| 1977 | 70 | #1,032 | 0 | – |
| 1976 | 55 | #1,157 | 0 | – |
| 1975 | 46 | #1,269 | 6 | #8,394 |
| 1974 | 53 | #1,129 | 0 | – |
| 1973 | 36 | #1,416 | 0 | – |
Highest rank
As a boy name, Jelani reached #935 in 1998. As a girl name, it reached #2,171 in 2024. Ranks count every name SSA published for that year and sex, so they go well past the top 1,000.
Names from the same era
These names were also most popular in the 2020s, with a similar number of babies. They can work as sibling or middle names that feel like they belong together.
Names spelled like Jelani
Source: US Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2024. Counts are Social Security card applications for US births; SSA leaves out names given to fewer than 5 babies in a year. Updated 2026-10-05. How these numbers are made.