The story behind Kali
From Sanskrit काली (kālī) or कालिका (kālikā).
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈkɑːli/
Regional pronunciation variants
- anglicized alternative pronunciation of the given name: /ˈkæli/
Popularity
Kali ranked #323 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Kali
Kālī
Learned borrowing from Sanskrit काली (kālī). By surface analysis, काल (kāl) + -ई (-ī).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Ī
- same syllable count
- similar length
Khyāti
Learned borrowing from Sanskrit ख्याति (khyāti).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Kīrti
Learned borrowing from Sanskrit कीर्ति (kīrti).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Krānti
Learned borrowing from Sanskrit क्रान्ति (krānti).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Devi
Borrowed from Sanskrit देवी (devī́, “goddess, female deity”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Hari
Borrowed from Sanskrit हरि (hari).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Kali
Dev
Borrowed from Hindi देव (dev). Learned borrowing from Sanskrit देव (deva), from Proto-Indo-Iranian *daywás, from Proto-Indo-European *deywós, from *dyew- + *-ós.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends V
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Jay
Borrowed from Hindi जय (jay, literally “victory”). Borrowed from Sanskrit जय (jaya, “victory”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends Y
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abhijit
Borrowed from Sanskrit अभिजित् (abhijit).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends T
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Kali
Ajay
Transliteration of Hindi अजय (ajay), etc. Learned borrowing from Sanskrit अजय (ajaya, “victorious; undefeatable”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Amit
Transliteration of Hindi अमित (amit), Marathi अमित (amit), Gujarati અમિત (amit), Bengali অমিত (omito), etc. Transliteration of Hebrew עָמִית ('amít). Borrowed from Sanskrit…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends T
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Anil
Borrowed from Hindi अनिल (anil), Marathi अनिल (anil), Kannada ಅನಿಲ್ (anil), Tamil அனில் (aṉil), Malayalam അനിൽ (anil), Bengali অনিল (onil), Nepali अनिल (anil), Urdu اَنِیل…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection