Mali, of African origin, particularly from the West African country of Mali, is a unisex given name that has gained global recognition. Derived from the Mandinka word 'Maa' meaning "mother" or "queen", Mali signifies maternal love and regal elegance. The name Mali has been popularized worldwide due to its musicality and ease of pronunciation in many languages. It has been favored by parents seeking a unique yet accessible name for their child.
The name Mali experienced a significant increase in popularity from the late 1990s to the early 2000s, with a notable spike in 2003 (55 births) and 2008 (65 births). However, it has since seen fluctuations, with a decline in recent years (45 births in 2022, 59 births in 2023). Overall, there have been a total of 1325 births named Mali from 1967 to 2023.