Malani is a modern English feminine name that likely originated as a creative variant of Melanie, blending it with the Hawaiian element lani, meaning "heaven, sky." This element appears in other Hawaiian-influenced names like Leilani (lei + lani) and Kalani (from kā lani, "the sky/chief"). While Malani's exact coinage is uncertain, it showcases the trend of adapting established names with exotic or nature-inspired suffixes to create fresh, melodic options in English-speaking countries, particularly in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.