Mali
Girl name · #3928 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Mali? In official American birth records, Mali has been tracked continuously since 1967, giving it 58 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
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?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Mali is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". 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 too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
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
How old is the name Mali?
In official American birth records, the name Mali first appeared in 1967 (over 58 years ago), when 7 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 58 years.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.