Kali
k(a)-li
US Popularity:532
Origin:Sanskrit
Meaning:the black one; time; The Divine Mother
If you’re going to name your daughter Kali, you best be prepared to raise a strong, independent young woman. A girl’s name of Sanskrit origins, Kali is also a Hindu goddess and master of time, death, and change. She is thought of as the pure manifestation of shakti—the primordial life force—and the mother of all things. Her name, therefore, means “time” and “The Divine Mother.” Because of time’s inevitable decay—and the similarities between Kali and the Hindi word kāla, meaning black—Kali also means “the black one.” As a goddess, Kali is known to destroy the wicked and save the innocent. She also bestows moksha, or enlightenment. Kali is one of the most important deities in Hinduism, making her a powerful, fierce, and timeless namesake for baby.
Kali Name Popularity Data
The Bump Ranking
Overall:Kali is currently #646 on The Bump
Girl:Kali is currently #275 on The Bump Girl Names
U.S. Births
Overall:Kali is currently #532 in U.S. births
Girl:Kali is currently #181 in U.S. births
Yearly Ranking Change:
Year:
2022
#532
in 2022
+ 39
from 2021
Sources
100,000+ Baby Names by Bruce Lansky, pg. 178
Online Etymology Dictionary, Kali, October 2017
WordSense, Kali
Britannica, Kali, Hindu goddess, October 2023
Britannica, moksha, Indian religion, January 2023
WordSense, shakti
DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary, Kali (कलि)
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