UK girl's name
Lania
A feminine Hawaiian name meaning "to attain the heights".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Lania is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Lania popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4709, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 5 births.
This profile covers 35 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2004 to 2023. 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 80% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 35 living people in the UK are called Lania. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Lania ranked #4709 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 5 girls were registered as Lania.
- • About 35 living people in the UK are estimated to have Lania as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4709
2023
Births in 2023
4
Latest year
Peak year
2007
5 births
Estimated living
35
2026
Meaning
What does Lania mean?
The name Lania is believed to have its origins in the ancient Greek language, where it was derived from the word "lania," meaning "woolen cloak" or "mantle." This name likely emerged during the classical period of ancient Greek civilization, which spanned from the 8th century BC to the 6th century AD.
In ancient Greek mythology, there are references to a nymph named Lania, who was said to be one of the followers of the goddess Artemis. This association with a mythological figure suggests that the name may have held cultural significance and was in use among the ancient Greeks.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Lania can be found in the writings of the Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BC. He mentioned a woman named Lania in his accounts of the Persian Wars, though details about her life are scarce.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Lania. One such person was Lania of Cyzicus, a Greek philosopher who lived in the 4th century BC and was a student of Plato's Academy in Athens. Her works, unfortunately, have been lost to time.
Another famous Lania was Lania of Thessaly, a renowned poet and musician who lived in the 3rd century BC. She was celebrated for her lyrical compositions and is mentioned in the writings of ancient Greek scholars such as Athenaeus.
In the 2nd century AD, there was a Roman woman named Lania Rufilla who became known for her patronage of the arts and literature. She was a wealthy and influential figure during the reign of Emperor Hadrian.
During the Byzantine era, a notable figure named Lania Synadene lived in the 6th century AD. She was a prominent scholar and theologian who contributed to the intellectual and religious discourse of her time.
Another example is Lania of Verona, an Italian noblewoman who lived in the 12th century AD. She was known for her involvement in the political affairs of her city and her support for the arts and literature.
While the name Lania has its roots in ancient Greek culture, it has been used across various regions and time periods, reflecting the diverse histories and influences that have shaped the evolution of names throughout human civilization.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Lania over time
The chart below shows babies named Lania registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Lania, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2023, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lania by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Lania 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 | #4709 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4518 | 13 | 3 |
| 2000s | #4559 | 18 | 5 |
Related
Names similar to Lania
- Lily 72,956
- Lucy 70,663
- Lauren 50,664
- Leah 33,185
- Lola 24,525
- Layla 24,520
- Laura 23,471
- Lilly 21,714
- Lydia 18,353
- Libby 14,515
- Lara 13,415
- Lacey 13,406
FAQ
Lania: questions and answers
How popular is the name Lania in the UK right now?
In 2023, Lania was ranked #4709 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Lania most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 5 babies registered as Lania in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Lania?
A feminine Hawaiian name meaning "to attain the heights".
How many people are called Lania in the UK?
A total of 35 babies have been registered as Lania across the 9 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.