Mali
Girl name · #3928 in 2025 · Uniqueness 84/100
Mali is currently the #3928 girl name in the United States — 37 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #3705, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 48,649 girls born in 2025 was named Mali.
Babies named Mali per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 58-year story
Mali first appears in the Social Security records in 1967, when 7 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2008, when 65 girls were named Mali — good for #2773 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Mali against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Mali in class?
Mali scores 84 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Mali will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Mali is most common
State-level data for Mali is sparse in 2025 — the name's footprint is too small for most states to report (the SSA suppresses counts under 5 per state for privacy).
Names like Mali
Statistically, parents drawn to Mali tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Anali, Maeli, Aili, Marli, and Tali.
AnaliMaeliAiliMarliTaliAnjaliAdaliNatali
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Mali | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37 | #3903 |
| 2024 | 43 | #3575 |
| 2023 | 59 | #2852 |
| 2022 | 46 | #3416 |
| 2021 | 48 | #3297 |
| 2020 | 49 | #3179 |
| 2019 | 64 | #2681 |
| 2018 | 32 | #4357 |
| 2017 | 44 | #3479 |
| 2016 | 37 | #3996 |
| 2015 | 41 | #3705 |
| 2014 | 52 | #3137 |
| 2013 | 43 | #3573 |
| 2012 | 48 | #3364 |
| 2011 | 48 | #3350 |
| 2010 | 42 | #3689 |
| 2009 | 52 | #3189 |
| 2008 | 65 | #2773 |
| 2007 | 46 | #3531 |
| 2006 | 37 | #3992 |
| 2005 | 43 | #3461 |
| 2004 | 35 | #3989 |
| 2003 | 55 | #2800 |
| 2002 | 29 | #4280 |
| 2001 | 24 | #4834 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Mali a popular girl name?
Mali ranked #3928 among girls in 2025 with 37 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3705.
When was the name Mali most popular?
Mali peaked in 2008, when 65 American girls received the name (ranked #2773 that year). Since 2008 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Mali?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 48,649 newborn American girls was named Mali. It scores 84/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.