UK name, mostly girls
Mahli
A masculine Indian name meaning "prosperous" or "affluent".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 3 boys.
Mahli is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Mahli popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5493, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 3 births.
This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2017 to 2020. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Mahli. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Mahli ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 3 girls were registered as Mahli.
- • Mahli is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mahli as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 75.0% of Mahli registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5493
2020
Births in 2020
3
Latest year
Peak year
2017
3 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Mahli
In England and Wales birth records, Mahli has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 25.0% of registrations are for boys and 75.0% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Mahli registered for boys
- Ranked #4,333 in 2007
- 3 boys registered in 2007
- Peak: 2007 (3 births)
Mahli registered for girls
- Ranked #5,493 in 2020
- 3 girls registered in 2020
- Peak: 2017 (3 births)
Meaning
What does Mahli mean?
The name Mahli is of Hebrew origin and finds its roots in the Biblical era. It is derived from the Hebrew word "machálâh," which means "sickness" or "disease." In ancient times, this name was likely given to children born during times of illness or epidemics, perhaps as a symbolic gesture to ward off sickness.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Mahli appears in the Old Testament of the Bible, where it is mentioned as the name of a Levite, a member of the Hebrew tribe dedicated to religious service. Mahli was the son of Merari, who was one of the three sons of Levi, the progenitor of the Levite tribe.
In the Book of Numbers, Mahli is listed among the leaders of the Levites, and his descendants are referred to as the Mahlites. The Mahlites were responsible for carrying the various components of the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary used by the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness.
Throughout the centuries, the name Mahli has been borne by several notable individuals. One of the earliest known figures was Mahli, a renowned Jewish scholar who lived in the 11th century in Narbonne, France. He was a prominent member of the Jewish community and contributed to the study of Jewish law and tradition.
Another noteworthy figure was Mahli al-Tawil, an Islamic scholar and mathematician who lived in the 9th century in Baghdad. He made significant contributions to the field of mathematics and is credited with introducing the concept of algebraic notation to the Islamic world.
In more recent times, Mahli Ewing was an American basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1988 to 2001. He was born in 1964 and is remembered for his defensive prowess and his tenure with the New York Knicks and the Seattle SuperSonics.
Mahli Krishan Vadhera was an Indian politician and social activist who dedicated his life to promoting education and advocating for the rights of marginalized communities. He was born in 1926 and served as a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament, from 1982 to 1988.
Finally, Mahli Brindis was a Mexican artist and sculptor known for her works in bronze and stone. She was born in 1953 and gained recognition for her public installations and her exploration of themes related to indigenous culture and the environment.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mahli over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Mahli in England and Wales, from 2007 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Mahli, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mahli by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mahli was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #5493 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #5716 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Mahli
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Mahli: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mahli in the UK right now?
In 2020, Mahli was ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Mahli most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 3 babies registered as Mahli in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mahli?
A masculine Indian name meaning "prosperous" or "affluent".
How many people are called Mahli in the UK?
A total of 9 babies have been registered as Mahli across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.