Declining since 2020, #3,903 for girls today.
Popularity of Mali since 1967
Babies named Mali per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2008, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Mali's real moment was 2019.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7 | 0 |
| 1970s | 32 | 7 |
| 1980s | 81 | 0 |
| 1990s | 139 | 11 |
| 2000s | 414 | 10 |
| 2010s | 451 | 15 |
| 2020s | 282 | 46 |
Meaning & origin
Mali first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1967, a modern coinage that gained modest traction in the following decades. Its peak year was 2019, reflecting a brief uptick in popularity for short, vowel-ending names. Since 2020 the name has been falling, consistent with a broader trend away from novelty names. Its rarity is notable: in 2025 it ranked 3,903, given to just 1 in 43,440 girls. New York is the only top state for the name, suggesting a geographically concentrated appeal. The origins are unclear; Mali likely emerged as an English variant of Molly or as a direct borrowing of the African country name. Its concise, melodic sound fits a pattern of names like Maya, Kai, and Lila.
Mali is a modern coinage, likely arising as a diminutive of Mary or Molly, similar to other short forms ending in -i. It may also be inspired by the West African country Mali, which gained independence in 1960 and has been a source of place-inspired names. Its use as a given name in the United States began in the late 1960s and has seen modest but steady popularity.
Where Mali is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Mali” around the world
Where Mali lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Sibling names for Mali
Names that share Mali's style, for a brother or sister.
