Cali Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Cali is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Cali?
Cali is spelled C-A-L-I. The name has 4 letters.
Cali at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Cali may derive from the name California or the Greek name Kalli, meaning “beautiful.”
- Origin
- The name Cali is commonly associated with the city of Cali in Colombia and may also represent a short form or nickname derived from longer names such as…
- Pronunciation
- KAL-ee · 2 syllables
Cali Popularity in 2025
Rank#574
Recorded Births518
Rank#5,861
Recorded Births15
- Girls usage fell 81 places to #574 and recorded 104 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 338 places to #5,861 and recorded 1 more birth compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Cali Mean?
Cali may derive from the name California or the Greek name Kalli, meaning “beautiful.”
Origin: The name Cali is commonly associated with the city of Cali in Colombia and may also represent a short form or nickname derived from longer names such as California or Kalli.
How Do You Pronounce Cali?
PronunciationKAL-ee
Syllables2
Cali Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 518 | #574 |
| 2025 | Boys | 15 | #5,861 |
| 2024 | Girls | 622 | #493 |
| 2024 | Boys | 14 | #6,199 |
| 2023 | Girls | 683 | #450 |
| 2023 | Boys | 26 | #4,112 |
| 2022 | Girls | 844 | #373 |
| 2022 | Boys | 27 | #3,995 |
| 2021 | Girls | 969 | #336 |
| 2021 | Boys | 25 | #4,118 |
| 2020 | Girls | 1,089 | #294 |
| 2020 | Boys | 51 | #2,505 |
| 2019 | Girls | 1,217 | #274 |
| 2019 | Boys | 35 | #3,259 |
| 2018 | Girls | 1,188 | #279 |
| 2018 | Boys | 36 | #3,171 |
| 2017 | Girls | 1,128 | #288 |
| 2017 | Boys | 25 | #4,105 |
| 2016 | Girls | 1,200 | #264 |
| 2016 | Boys | 32 | #3,441 |
| 2015 | Girls | 1,437 | #232 |
| 2015 | Boys | 30 | #3,591 |
| 2014 | Girls | 1,664 | #202 |
| 2014 | Boys | 24 | #4,138 |
When Was Cali Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2014 · Girls
1,664 recorded births
National rank #202
2015 · Girls
1,437 recorded births
National rank #232
2019 · Girls
1,217 recorded births
National rank #274
2016 · Girls
1,200 recorded births
National rank #264
Where Cali Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MS | #182 | 14 |
| LA | #212 | 20 |
| WV | #308 | 5 |
| FL | #367 | 50 |
| SC | #373 | 13 |
| KY | #405 | 10 |
| GA | #431 | 26 |
| OH | #444 | 25 |