Wali
Boy name · #2431 in 2025 · Uniqueness 71/100
Wali is currently the #2431 boy name in the United States — 56 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #2966, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 32,143 boys born in 2025 was named Wali.
The 74-year story
Wali first appears in the Social Security records in 1951, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2016, when 65 boys were named Wali — good for #2134 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.
Babies named Wali per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Wali against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Wali in class?
Wali scores 71 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 Wali will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Wali is most common
Geography matters for names, and Wali is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Walis were NY (8), TX (8), CA (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Wali
Statistically, parents drawn to Wali tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Naftali, Denali, Yuri, Neftali, and Wolf.
NaftaliDenaliYuriNeftaliWolfRafiBramMace
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Wali | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 56 | #2421 |
| 2024 | 36 | #3272 |
| 2023 | 37 | #3228 |
| 2022 | 45 | #2830 |
| 2021 | 39 | #3074 |
| 2020 | 52 | #2467 |
| 2019 | 51 | #2556 |
| 2018 | 49 | #2579 |
| 2017 | 55 | #2345 |
| 2016 | 65 | #2134 |
| 2015 | 39 | #2966 |
| 2014 | 24 | #4138 |
| 2013 | 18 | #4981 |
| 2012 | 17 | #5256 |
| 2011 | 17 | #5200 |
| 2010 | 15 | #5741 |
| 2009 | 13 | #6436 |
| 2008 | 20 | #4714 |
| 2007 | 15 | #5661 |
| 2006 | 23 | #4105 |
| 2005 | 18 | #4631 |
| 2004 | 13 | #5813 |
| 2003 | 17 | #4616 |
| 2002 | 16 | #4703 |
| 2001 | 16 | #4676 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Wali a popular boy name?
Wali ranked #2431 among boys in 2025 with 56 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2966.
When was the name Wali most popular?
Wali peaked in 2016, when 65 American boys received the name (ranked #2134 that year). Since 2016 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Wali?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 32,143 newborn American boys was named Wali. It scores 71/100 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.