Kali

Kali - A very unique female name

Kali appeared on the charts for the first time in 1971 on position #1480. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Kali and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Kali? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Kali. The baby girl name Kali was given to 920 baby girls in 2025, ranking #322 on the national girl baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 1,417 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Kali peaked in popularity 7 years ago in 2019 on position 240.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Kali, 1-5?

Kali is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Kali is currently topping the baby name charts in Mississippi at position #90 - and is the least popular in Colorado at position #847.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Kali is where you live.

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Kali origin and meaning

Multiple origins — Sanskrit and modern American use converge

Uncertain for modern US use — Kali is the Sanskrit goddess name from kala, 'black, time,' but many American Kalis are a respelling of Callie

Kali is the name of the Hindu goddess, from Sanskrit kala, meaning black and time — that derivation is solid for the goddess. American use from 1971, however, mixes the goddess name with a K respelling of Callie, so a single origin cannot be assigned to the name as used. It peaked in 2019 and has fallen since.

Origin uncertain

Kali is a 4 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Kali, pop culture references for the name Kali and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Kali

We've found the following names that sound similar to Kali, sorted by popularity.

Kelly / Kayla / Kaylee / Kylie / Kelli / Khloe / Kylee / Kellie / Kelley / Kyla /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Kali

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Kali a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique female name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Kali?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

KAH-lee · /ˈkɑːli/
The goddess name is KAH-lee; as a Callie respelling it is KAL-ee — the two pronunciations signal different names.

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Cali — Respelling used both for California and for Callie

Famous bearers

• Kali — Hindu goddess of time and destruction (Traditional) Historical
• Kali Uchis — Singer; born Karly-Marina Loaiza and known by the stage name Kali Uchis (b. 1994) Contemporary

Style

InternationalMythological

Why parents choose it

Kali carries real spiritual weight for Hindu families; other parents choose it as a sharper spelling of Callie — the two audiences hear different names.

Worth knowing

• The goddess association is strong and specific, not a generic 'pretty' meaning — worth understanding before using it casually.
• Pronunciation reveals which Kali is meant, KAH-lee or KAL-ee, and bearers get both.