Alakai

Alakai is an Anglicization of Alaka'i, a Hawaiian name meaning "leader" and the name of a swamp and wilderness preserve on the island of Kaua'i. Its traditional pronunciation would beah-lah-kah-ee, however, some parents as using it as an invented name inspired by Malakai, with the sounds of the much loved Kai at the end.

Rarely used before the 2010s, Alakai is now 5 times more popular than it was a decade ago. Given to around 110 babies in a recent year, model, actor, and musician Bryce Alakai might have made people more aware of the name.

Pronounced ah-lah-KY.

As of October 2026, Alakai ranked #1808 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #1557 in 2023.