How to say it
KA · li
ˈkɑː.li
Feminine
Kali
The dark one; or beautiful
What it means
In Sanskrit, the fierce Hindu goddess Kali, 'the black one' or 'she who is time'; separately, a Greek root for 'beautiful' and a short for Kalliope.
Kali carries two very different histories. In Sanskrit it is the name of the powerful Hindu goddess Kali, 'the black one' or 'she who is time,' the destroyer of evil and ego. In Western use it more often reads as a bright short name, echoing the Greek kalli-, 'beautiful,' or standing in for Kalliope or Kayla. Pronunciations split between KAH-lee and KAY-lee, which keeps the two senses apart.
How to spell Kali
The standard spelling is Kali. Common variants include Kallie, Cali, Kaleigh, but Kali is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #242 in 2019, currently #323 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Worth knowing
Kali is a major Hindu goddess of time, change, and destruction; that is real religious weight some families honor and others may not intend.
- Pronunciation
KAH-lee for the goddess; KAY-lee when used as a short, bright name.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Kali the Hindu goddess of time, change, and destruction
Spelling variants
- Kallie
- Cali
- Kaleigh
Names with the same feeling
See Kali from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Kali mean?
- In Sanskrit, the fierce Hindu goddess Kali, 'the black one' or 'she who is time'; separately, a Greek root for 'beautiful' and a short for Kalliope.
- What does Kali mean in Sanskrit?
- In Sanskrit, Kali means "The dark one; or beautiful." Kali carries two very different histories. In Sanskrit it is the name of the powerful Hindu goddess Kali, 'the black one' or 'she who is time,' the destroyer of evil and ego. In Western use it more often reads as a bright short name, echoing the Greek kalli-, 'beautiful,' or standing in for Kalliope or Kayla. Pronunciations split between KAH-lee and KAY-lee, which keeps the two senses apart.
- How do you pronounce Kali?
- Kali is pronounced ˈkɑː.li. Say it as KA-li, with the stress on the "ka" syllable.
- How do you spell Kali?
- The standard spelling is Kali. Common spelling variants include Kallie, Cali, Kaleigh.
- Is Kali a boy or girl name?
- Kali is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Kali?
- Kali ranked #323 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.