NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Laini

A feminine name of Tongan origin meaning "heavenly flowers".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2010. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Laini is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Laini popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2010 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5707, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 5 births.

This profile covers 15 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2004 to 2010. 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 15 living people in the UK are called Laini. 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 2011 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Laini ranked #5707 for girls in England and Wales in 2010, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2004, when 5 girls were registered as Laini.
  • About 15 living people in the UK are estimated to have Laini as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5707

2010

Births in 2010

3

Latest year

Peak year

2004

5 births

Estimated living

15

2026

Meaning

What does Laini mean?

The name Laini is a modern and relatively uncommon given name with uncertain origins. It is believed to be a variant spelling of the name Laina, which is derived from the Greek word "laina" meaning "woolen cloak" or "blanket." The name Laina itself is a diminutive form of the Greek name Elaina, meaning "olive tree."

While the name Laini does not have a clear cultural or linguistic origin, it is possible that it was inspired by the Greek root "laina" and adapted with a slightly different spelling. The earliest recorded instances of the name Laini appear to be from the late 20th century, suggesting that it is a relatively new name in the grand scheme of naming traditions.

One notable individual with the name Laini is Laini Taylor, an American author born in 1971. She is best known for her young adult fantasy novels, including the "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" trilogy and the "Strange the Dreamer" duology. Her books have received critical acclaim and have been translated into numerous languages.

Another person named Laini is Laini Yahir, a Mexican singer and actress born in 1990. She rose to fame as a child star in the early 2000s and has since released several successful albums and appeared in various television shows and movies.

In the world of sports, Laini Arruda is a Brazilian beach volleyball player who has represented her country in international competitions. She was born in 1991 and has won multiple medals at the South American Beach Games.

Historically, the name Laini does not seem to have been widely used or documented. There are no notable references to individuals with this name in ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records from centuries past.

One potential early example of the name Laini is Laini Loran, an American actress and model born in 1947. She appeared in several television shows and films in the 1970s and 1980s, although her career was relatively brief.

While the name Laini is relatively uncommon, it has gained some popularity in recent decades, likely due to its unique and melodic sound. However, its origins and historical significance remain somewhat obscure, and it does not appear to have deep cultural or linguistic roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Laini over time

The chart below shows babies named Laini registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2010. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Laini, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2010, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Laini
01345200420072010

Decades

Laini by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Laini 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
2010s #5707 3 1
2000s #4261 12 3

Related

Names similar to Laini

FAQ

Laini: questions and answers

How popular is the name Laini in the UK right now?

In 2010, Laini was ranked #5707 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Laini most popular?

The peak year on record was 2004, with 5 babies registered as Laini in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Laini?

A feminine name of Tongan origin meaning "heavenly flowers".

How many people are called Laini in the UK?

A total of 15 babies have been registered as Laini across the 4 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.