Path, roadway, or heavenly flower
Layni is primarily a modern English diminutive of Lane, referring to a small path or roadway. It is also frequently used as a phonetic spelling variant of Lani, which means 'heaven' or 'sky' in Hawaiian. This dual heritage gives the name both a grounded, literal meaning and a more ethereal, celestial connection.
Less common today
Layni isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #3,869 in 2022.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
A character in the young adult fantasy novel series · Daughter of Smoke and Bone
