Gilani is a persian surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Sayyed Abdul-Qadir Gilani (1077–1166), 12th century Muslim Saint, Scholar and Author of books on spirituality
Sayyed Abd Al-Rahman Al-Gilani (1841–1927), first Prime Minister of Iraq in 1920
Ahmed Gailani Afghan politician (born 1932)
Baqa Jilani (1911–1941), early 20th century cricketer from the Punjab
Benjamin Gilani (born 1946), Indian theatre and television actor
Abdul Qader al-Keilani (1874–1948), early 20th century Syrian statesman and religious authority
Hina Jilani (born 1953), Pakistani human-rights activist
Haji Gilani (died 2003), participant in the 2001 Afghan war
Hamid Raza Gilani, Pakistani politician
Imtiaz Gilani (born 1947), Pakistani engineer and academic
Kamel al-Kilani (born 1958), minister in the Iraqi Interim Council
Maulana Manazir Ahsan Gilani, 19th century philosopher
Mian Ghulam Jilani (1914–2004), critic of the Bhutto government
Mohammad Mohammadi Gilani (born 1928), Iranian cleric and religious authority
Mubarak Ali Gilani, Hanafi, Qadiri sheikh
Rashid Ali al-Gaylani (1892–1965), Prime Minister of Iraq in 1933 and 1941
Syeda Sarwat Gilani (born 1982), Pakistani actress and model
Syed Ali Shah Geelani, separatist leader, important member of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference
Sayed Ishaq Gailani (born 1954), Afghan Politician
Syed Mumtaz Alam Gillani (born 1940), Pakistani lawyer and politician
Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani (born 1952), Prime Minister of Pakistan from March 24, 2008 to April 26, 2012
Zahed Gilani (1216–1301), 13th century leader of the Zahediyeh Sufi order
Syed Iftikhar Hussain Gillani, Pakistani Former Federal Minister for Law and Justice