UK boy's name
Vali
A name of Persian origin meaning "strong, lion-like".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2014. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Vali is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Vali popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2014 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4632, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2014 to 2014. 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.
Vali is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Vali. 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 2015 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Vali ranked #4632 for boys in England and Wales in 2014, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2014, when 3 boys were registered as Vali.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Vali as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4632
2014
Births in 2014
3
Latest year
Peak year
2014
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Vali mean?
The name Vali has its origins in the Sanskrit language, stemming from ancient India. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "bali," which means "strength" or "sacrifice." The name can be traced back to the Vedic period, around 1500-500 BCE, and is associated with Hindu mythology and religious texts.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Vali can be found in the Hindu epic Ramayana, where it refers to a powerful monkey king who ruled over the kingdom of Kishkindha. According to the tale, Vali was the son of the god Indra and a monkey princess named Arundhati. He was known for his immense strength and bravery, but also for his arrogance and pride, which ultimately led to his downfall at the hands of Lord Rama.
In ancient Indian history, there are several notable figures who bore the name Vali. One such figure was Vali, a 7th-century ruler of the Chola dynasty in present-day Tamil Nadu, India. He was known for his military conquests and for patronizing the arts and literature during his reign.
Another famous Vali was Vali Nasr, a 10th-century Persian scholar and physician who made significant contributions to the field of medicine. He wrote several treatises on various medical topics, including a comprehensive work on ophthalmology.
In the 16th century, Vali-ud-din Muhtasham was a renowned Mughal calligrapher and poet who served under the emperor Akbar. He was renowned for his mastery of the Nasta'liq script and his contributions to the development of Persian calligraphy.
Moving to more modern times, Vali Nasr is a contemporary Iranian-American academic and author who has written extensively on the Middle East and Islamic studies. He is currently a professor at Johns Hopkins University and has served as a senior advisor to the U.S. government on foreign policy matters.
Throughout history, the name Vali has been associated with strength, sacrifice, and bravery, reflecting its Sanskrit roots. While it has been predominantly used in South Asia and the Middle East, the name has also found its way into other cultures and regions, carrying with it the rich historical and mythological significance of its origins.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Vali by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Vali 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4632 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Vali
- Vincent 7,753
- Vinnie 6,092
- Victor 4,279
- Vinny 1,401
- Veer 1,163
- Vihaan 948
- Valentino 883
- Viktor 706
- Vlad 677
- Vivaan 615
- Vincenzo 587
- Vladimir 541
FAQ
Vali: questions and answers
How popular is the name Vali in the UK right now?
In 2014, Vali was ranked #4632 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Vali most popular?
The peak year on record was 2014, with 3 babies registered as Vali in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Vali?
A name of Persian origin meaning "strong, lion-like".
How many people are called Vali in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Vali across the 1 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.