Wali
How to say it: WAH-lee · /ˈwɑli/
Arabic 'wali' meaning 'guardian, protector, friend' - Islamic title for a saint or custodian.
Wali was the 1,924th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 56 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up about 39% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #2,038 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #1,924 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 56 |
| Share of births | 1 in 59,202 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | +39% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #2,038 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,436 among boys’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Wali is climbing: the 2020s are already its best decade.
What goes with it
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Wali is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Arabic, English, French.
In France: #2,436 for boys in 2025.
Keep exploring
About as popular as Wali
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