Kali Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Kali is derived from the Sanskrit word for 'darkness' or 'time' and is associated with the goddess of destruction and transformation in Hinduism. The name has evolved from its ancient roots to modern usages, often symbolizing empowerment and strength. It has no biblical relevance, but gained popularity in the 20th century due to an increased interest in Eastern cultures. Variants of the name include Kālī and Kalika, and it is currently associated with notable figures in music and entertainment.
The name Kali is most popular in Nevada, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Alpha generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Kali has been stalled for male in MidWest, falling for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too falling for female in South, stalled for male in West, too falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too falling for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Kali' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3416th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 5158th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 5670th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 3457th out of 23106 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 6731st out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2046th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 511th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 486th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 287th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Kali' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Kali"
Pronunciation
/ˈkɑːli/
Origin
Sanskrit
Etymology
The name Kali is derived from the Sanskrit word 'kāla', which means 'darkness' or 'time'. In Hindu mythology, Kali is the goddess of destruction and transformation.
Meaning
dark, time, black
Language Evolution
Kāla (Sanskrit), Kali (Sanskrit), Kālī (modern usage)
Historical Usage
The name Kali gained popularity in the West during the 20th century, especially with the rise of interest in Eastern religions and spirituality.
Variants & Derivatives
Kālī, Kalika, Kaliya
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Kali is viewed as a symbol of empowerment and transformation, often associated with feminism and strength in modern spiritual contexts.
Famous People
Kali Uchis - American singer and songwriter, Kali Hawk - American actress and comedian, Kali Prasad Mukherjee - Indian singer and musician
Explore More Kali Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Kali"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Kali"
"Kali" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 3416th of 10718 | 144 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 5158th of 16616 | 137 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 5670th of 24088 | 218 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 3457th of 23106 | 388 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 6731st of 12526 | 56 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 2046th of 19264 | 669 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 511th of 27321 | 7,260 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 486th of 35406 | 9,903 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 287th of 30306 | 13,680 |
Regional Popularity of "Kali" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
60.98% 1791st/2937 |
51.85% 1806th/3483 |
- | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - |
51.80% 3866th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
52.68% 3594th/6822 |
71.13% 4464th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Kali" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
80.73% 2371st/2937 |
58.89% 2051st/3483 |
78.14% 2749th/3518 |
45.08% 1823rd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
9.44% 348th/3685 |
12.54% 561st/4475 |
10.78% 560th/5194 |
9.36% 591st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
8.62% 395th/4582 |
10.09% 521st/5164 |
7.04% 515th/7313 |
7.24% 540th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
7.71% 307th/3984 |
7.38% 331st/4487 |
2.99% 204th/6822 |
7.06% 443rd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Kali"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Kali" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.