Kali
From Sanskrit kali, meaning the black one, the feminine of kala, which covers both black and time. Kali is a fierce form of the Hindu goddess Devi.
Kali in 2025
Kali was given to 972 babies in the United States in 2025, making it the 670th most popular name of the year. That is roughly one in every 3,411 babies born.
The history of Kali
Kali reached its highest point in 2019, when 1,353 babies were given the name, ranking 509th that year.
Across the 69 years of records since 1957, 33,438 babies have been named Kali. Half of them were born before 2010, which places the name's centre of gravity with Generation Z.
Kali by decade
| Decade | Babies named Kali | Best rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 21 | 7,224 |
| 1960s | 87 | 5,341 |
| 1970s | 658 | 2,068 |
| 1980s | 2,823 | 937 |
| 1990s | 6,960 | 636 |
| 2000s | 5,904 | 799 |
| 2010s | 10,167 | 509 |
| 2020s | 6,818 | 532 |
Where Kali is heading
Kali has fallen 20% over the past decade, from 1,217 babies in 2015 to 972 in 2025.
Names like Kali
Names that rose and fell at the same time as Kali.