Meaning: Uncertain; possibly related to the Arabic name Jilani
The story
Jelani is a modern African American name documented in US naming from 1973. Its origin may be Arabic Jilani; the widely repeated Swahili translation “mighty” is not a secure etymology.
Nicknames
- Lani
- Jel
Spellings & variants
- Jalani
- Jelanie
Popularity
Uncommon
Outside the US top 1,000.
Style
Origins
Jelani comes from African American.
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