Alakai is a Hawaiian name from the word alaka'i, which means "leader" or "guide". It belongs to the group of Hawaiian names, with Kai, Koa and Kainoa, that have spread well beyond the islands as parents look for short, open-voweled names with a clear meaning. Alakai has climbed from number 5516 in 2015 to a peak of number 1558 in 2023 and ranks 1808 in 2025.