Kali

“Hindu goddess of destruction and liberation” — Sanskrit origin

Girl's name · #323 in the US (2025) · 2020s

Kali reached its best rank, #242, in 2019 and ranked #323 in 2025. About 33,000 girls have carried it since 1957. In Mississippi and Louisiana it runs 3–5× its national rate and ranks #72 in Mississippi. Together with its spelling variant Cali (#574), Kali would rank around #207 with about 1,500 births last year — the newborns split about 65/35 between Kali and Cali.

Around the world: about 1 in 2,000 girls in Scotland (2025) · about 1 in 2,400 girls in N. Ireland (2025) · about 1 in 2,600 girls in Canada (2024).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 39 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Kalis

Kali Uchis — American singer and songwriter (born 1994)
Kali Rocha — American actress
Kali Reis — American boxer and actress
Kali Hawk — American actress
Kali Christ — speed skater

In stories & tradition

Kālī — goddess
Kali — The Transposed Heads
Kali Belladonna — RWBY

What Kalis become

Among 113 notable people named Kali:

Entertainers appear 2× more often than among typical names — e.g. Kali Uchis, American singer and songwriter (born 1994).

Similar names: Cali · Aspen · Khaleesi · Maliyah · Aadhya · Kylee

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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