UK girl's name
Chani
A feminine name of Hebrew origin representing "Life" or "Living".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Chani is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Chani popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2253, with 12 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 14 births.
This profile covers 166 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 86% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 165 living people in the UK are called Chani. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Chani ranked #2253 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 12 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2018, when 14 girls were registered as Chani.
- • About 165 living people in the UK are estimated to have Chani as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2253
2024
Births in 2024
12
Latest year
Peak year
2018
14 births
Estimated living
165
2026
Meaning
What does Chani mean?
The name Chani has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, and is believed to have been derived from the Hebrew word "chen," which means "grace" or "favor." The name first appeared in written records dating back to ancient times, when it was used by Jewish communities in the Middle East.
One of the earliest known references to the name Chani can be found in the biblical book of Esther, where it is mentioned as the name of one of the maidens in the court of King Ahasuerus. This biblical reference suggests that the name was in use among the Jewish people as early as the 5th century BCE.
Throughout history, the name Chani has been associated with several notable figures. One of the most famous was Chani Nussbaum, a Polish-Jewish lawyer and activist who fought for women's rights and social justice in the early 20th century. She was born in 1890 and died in 1962.
Another prominent individual with the name Chani was Chani Arieli, an Israeli singer and actress who rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s. She was born in 1923 and passed away in 2005.
In the field of literature, Chani Greenberg was a notable American author and poet who wrote extensively about Jewish themes and experiences. She was born in 1940 and died in 2012.
Chani Levisohn was a pioneering Israeli architect and urban planner who made significant contributions to the development of modern Israeli cities in the latter half of the 20th century. She was born in 1928 and died in 2011.
Finally, Chani Muller was a South African activist and philanthropist who dedicated her life to fighting against apartheid and promoting education and social justice. She was born in 1927 and passed away in 2018.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Chani throughout history, reflecting its enduring appeal and significance across various cultures and time periods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Chani over time
The chart below shows babies named Chani registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Chani, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 12 births in 2024, compared with 14 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Chani by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Chani was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #2735 | 47 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3215 | 78 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3224 | 33 | 6 |
| 1990s | #3176 | 8 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Chani
- Chloe 111,265
- Charlotte 88,733
- Caitlin 28,931
- Courtney 23,162
- Chelsea 13,049
- Clara 9,435
- Connie 8,402
- Catherine 8,376
- Charlie 7,964
- Cerys 7,506
- Casey 7,018
- Cara 6,375
FAQ
Chani: questions and answers
How popular is the name Chani in the UK right now?
In 2024, Chani was ranked #2253 for girls in England and Wales, with 12 births registered.
When was Chani most popular?
The peak year on record was 2018, with 14 babies registered as Chani in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Chani?
A feminine name of Hebrew origin representing "Life" or "Living".
How many people are called Chani in the UK?
A total of 166 babies have been registered as Chani across the 23 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.