Mali - girls name

Mali name popularity, meaning and origin

Name Popularity: 91%

Mali name meaning:

The name Mali has multiple origins and meanings depending on the cultural context. In the African language Bambara, Mali means "hippopotamus," which is considered a symbol of strength and power. In this sense, the name Mali may represent a strong and formidable personality, someone who is independent and capable of taking charge.

Alternatively, Mali could also be a variation of the Hebrew name Malia, which means "bitter" or "sad." In this interpretation, the name Mali may reflect a more sensitive and introspective nature, someone who may have experienced hardship but has grown stronger as a result.

Overall, the name Mali holds associations of strength, power, and resilience. Whether derived from the African language or the Hebrew origin, the name Mali imparts a sense of uniqueness and character to the individual who bears it.

Origin: Welsh

Welsh form of Molly: bitter.

Related names

Molly , Maille, Mali , Poll, Polly

Other girls names beginning with M

Statistics

Overall UK ranking: 496 out of 5581

85 recorded births last year

Change in rank

  • 10yrs

    79
  • 5yrs

    17
  • 1yr

    -131

    Regional popularity

    Ranking for this name in various UK regions

  • Wales (43)
  • Scotland (792)

Historical popularity of Mali

The graph below shows the popularity of the girls's name Mali from all the UK baby name statistics available. It's a quick easy way to see the trend for Mali in 2024