Kali
A girls’ name of Sanskrit origin, meaning black; fierce; Hindu goddess of time.
How Kali has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #267 |
| 2016 | #300 |
| 2017 | #301 |
| 2018 | #275 |
| 2019 | #242 |
| 2020 | #253 |
| 2021 | #284 |
| 2022 | #250 |
| 2023 | #290 |
| 2024 | #294 |
| 2025 | #323 |
Kali by the numbers
In 2025, 26 babies in England and Wales were named Kali. In the US, 1,120 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given several times more often in the US than in England and Wales.
Its American peak was 1,254 babies in 2014, making it a 2010s name.
At its height, in 1995, about 1 in 2,500 American girls born that year was called Kali.
Names that come from Kali
Forms of Kali in other languages, names built from it, and names that mean a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Kali. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
Sounds like Kali
Names that are said the same way as Kali, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
- Calliebeautiful; a form of Calista or Calliope270 in England and Wales (2025)
- Callia form of Callie; beautiful or lovely73 in the US (2017)
- Kaliebeautiful; a form of Callie38 in the US (2017)
- Caliebeautiful; a variant of Callie or Cally30 in the US (2017)
- Kahlithe dark goddess; a form of Kali or modern spelling variant21 in the US (2017)
- Callybeautiful or lovely; diminutive of Calista7 in England and Wales (2025)
Other names that mean darkness
Like Kali, each of these has darkness in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Laylanight, dark beauty6,283 in the US (2017)
- Blakedark or pale3,782 in the US (2017)
- Melaniedark, black3,232 in the US (2017)
- Leilanight, dark beauty1,400 in the US (2017)
- Delaneydark challenger; descendant of Dubhshláine1,270 in the US (2017)
- Blakelydark or pale meadow; a place name used as personal name1,244 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean God
Like Kali, each of these has God in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Isabellapledged to God15,112 in the US (2017)
- Elizabethmy God is an oath8,924 in the US (2017)
- Angelmessenger of God6,157 in the US (2017)
- Auroradawn; Roman goddess of sunrise1,030 in England and Wales (2025)
- SamanthaGod has heard; feminine form of Samuel4,308 in the US (2017)
- Micahwho is like God3,924 in the US (2017)
Names about as common as Kali
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