Cali Girl

Popularity: #492 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KAH-lee //ˈkɑːli//

Origin: English; Spanish; Greek

Meaning: English: 'beautiful'; Spanish: 'from Calista'; Greek: 'most beautiful'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Cali has its roots in the Latin word "calidus," meaning "warm" or "hot." This etymological origin reflects a connection to warmth and heat, which may have influenced its adoption in various cultures. The name is also associated with the Sanskrit word "kali," meaning "black" or "dark," which is significant in Hindu mythology as Kali is a goddess representing empowerment and destruction.

The transition of the name into English likely occurred through various cultural exchanges, particularly during the periods of colonial expansion and the influence of Latin on English vocabulary. Historically, the name Cali has been linked to various cultural and religious figures.

In the context of Hinduism, Kali is a prominent goddess worshipped since ancient times, with texts and practices surrounding her dating back to the early centuries of the Common Era. The name has also been used in various forms across different cultures, sometimes appearing as a diminutive or affectionate form of longer names, such as Calista, which means "most beautiful" in Greek.

This connection to beauty and strength has contributed to the name's enduring appeal. Culturally, the name Cali resonates with themes of warmth, beauty, and empowerment.

It has been embraced in various artistic and literary contexts, often symbolizing a strong, vibrant character. The name's association with the goddess Kali has also imbued it with a sense of mystique and reverence in certain traditions, highlighting the duality of creation and destruction.

Overall, the name Cali embodies a rich tapestry of linguistic and cultural significance that has evolved over centuries.

Famous people named Cali

In this section, you will find notable people named Cali. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Cali who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Cali who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Cali Lewis is a tech journalist best known for GeekBrief TV, her work with the Gadget Show, and her appearances at tech events.

Cali Swag District is a hip hop group best known for their hit single Teach Me How to Dougie.

Fictional characters named Cali

The following list of fictional characters named Cali is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Cali is a fictional character from the video game series Fire Emblem. She is a character in Fire Emblem: Three Houses, known for her cheerful personality and strong sense of justice.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Cali, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

CoraMilaLilaNinaZaraTessa

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Cali. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

KaliCallaCeliaCaraCleoCamiCindyCora

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Cali was first seen in the United States in 1959.

Cali has ranked as high as #431 nationally, which occurred in 2014, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Florida, Ohio, and New York.

In the past 5 years the name Cali has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Cali is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Cali was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Cali.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 533 15 518
2024 636 14 622
2023 709 26 683
2022 871 27 844
2021 994 25 969
2020 1,140 51 1,089
2019 1,252 35 1,217
2018 1,224 36 1,188
2017 1,153 25 1,128
2016 1,232 32 1,200
2015 1,467 30 1,437
2014 1,688 24 1,664
2013 1,145 12 1,133
2012 954 8 946
2011 828 12 816
2010 765 8 757
2009 739 7 732
2008 740 0 740
2007 664 0 664
2006 492 10 482
2005 450 0 450
2004 346 0 346
2003 317 0 317
2002 284 0 284
2001 257 0 257
2000 277 0 277
1999 266 0 266
1998 235 0 235
1997 201 0 201
1996 171 0 171
1995 141 0 141
1994 111 0 111
1993 128 0 128
1992 128 0 128
1991 122 0 122
1990 148 0 148
1989 132 0 132
1988 76 0 76
1987 96 0 96
1986 96 0 96
1985 128 0 128
1984 46 0 46
1983 47 0 47
1982 43 0 43
1981 22 0 22
1980 29 0 29
1979 23 6 17
1978 30 0 30
1977 23 0 23
1976 22 0 22
1975 21 0 21
1974 16 0 16
1973 17 0 17
1972 9 0 9
1971 7 0 7
1970 7 0 7
1969 8 0 8
1967 6 0 6
1966 6 0 6
1965 5 0 5
1963 11 0 11
1962 5 0 5
1959 6 0 6

Top States for Cali (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
FL 58
10%
CA 46
8%
NY 43
7%
TX 39
7%
GA 35
6%
OH 31
5%
MI 25
4%
PA 23
4%
NC 23
4%
IL 18
3%
MS 18
3%
TN 18
3%
VA 18
3%
LA 17
3%
MD 17
3%
AL 17
3%
NJ 17
3%
WI 14
2%
IN 13
2%
MO 12
2%
SC 12
2%
KY 11
2%
CT 10
2%
AZ 10
2%
MA 9
2%
AR 8
1%
OK 7
1%
WA 6
1%
KS 6
1%
MN 5
1%