US Popularity Rank: 603

Origin: Sanskrit

Meaning: the black one; time; The Divine Mother

If you’re going to name your daughter Kali, you best be prepared to raise a strong, independent young woman. A girl’s name of Sanskrit origins, Kali is also a Hindu goddess and master of time, death, and change. She is thought of as the pure manifestation of shakti—the primordial life force—and the mother of all things. Her name, therefore, means “time” and “The Divine Mother.” Because of time’s inevitable decay—and the similarities between Kali and the Hindi word kāla, meaning black—Kali also means “the black one.” As a goddess, Kali is known to destroy the wicked and save the innocent. She also bestows moksha, or enlightenment. Kali is one of the most important deities in Hinduism, making her a powerful, fierce, and timeless namesake for baby.