The baby name Kapali is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced kuh-PAH-lee (IPA: /kəˈpɑːli/).
Kapali is Sanskrit in Origin.
The baby name Kapali is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced kuh-PAH-lee (IPA: /kəˈpɑːli/).
Kapali is Sanskrit in Origin.
Kapali is an Indian given name derived from Sanskrit kapāla, “skull” or “skull-bowl,” through the epithet Kapālī/Kapālin of the god Shiva, meaning “skull-bearer” or “one who wears a skull.” The epithet evokes ascetic power, awareness of mortality, and transformative destruction that clears the way for renewal, giving the name a protective and spiritual resonance. It is typically masculine, though grammatically a feminine form (Kapālini/Kapalini) exists.
Usage is most common in South India, especially Tamil Nadu, where devotion to Shiva and the famed Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore have sustained the name’s popularity; it also appears as a surname. Historical echoes include the Kāpālika Shaiva ascetics, known for carrying a skull-bowl. Variants and related forms include Kapālī (diacritic), Kapalin, Kapalee, and the theonymic Kapaleeswaran/Kapaleeshwarar. Spellings vary across Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada contexts due to transliteration.
Kapali is far from common. In all, it turns up just 53 times, across 11 countries.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NA | Girls | 0 | #235 | 3 | 7,146 |
| NA | Boys | 0 | #253 | 1 | 6,830 |
| AE | Girls | 0 | #597 | 1 | 20,968 |
| BD | Boys | 0 | #605 | 1 | 10,045 |
| IQ | Boys | 0 | #697 | 1 | 13,071 |
| SG | Boys | 0 | #737 | 3 | 17,960 |
| QA | Boys | 0 | #743 | 1 | 18,093 |
| KW | Boys | 0 | #806 | 1 | 18,755 |
| IN | Boys | 0 | #1,034 | 6 | 16,750 |
| MY | Girls | 0 | #1,072 | 1 | 24,821 |
| AE | Boys | 0 | #1,142 | 2 | 22,615 |
| MY | Boys | 0 | #1,182 | 1 | 25,439 |
| TR | 0 | #1,187 | 25 | 19,440 | |
| SA | Boys | 0 | #1,686 | 6 | 28,008 |
Kapali is popular in 11 countries — most recent births per country:
Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!