Cali ranks at #200 with 532 entries, and the name does double duty in a way that most names at this rank do not. It functions as a place-name shorthand for California, and it functions as a coat-pattern descriptor for calico cats, and the same letters land on both.
The dual-function naming pattern
Calico cats over-index strongly on Cali — the name reads as a clipped diminutive of "calico" and gives owners an easy descriptor-name without committing to the full word. Compare with the brown-coat function of Cocoa and the gray function of Smokey. Cali is unusual in that the descriptor function is breed-coded (calico cats) rather than color-coded.
One counter-reading: the California shorthand is a real and possibly larger driver. Owners with California connections — surf culture, transplants, or anyone who loves the state — pick Cali for that reason, and the name lands on dogs and cats with no relation to calico patterns. The name has the rare property of working from two completely different etymological inputs that happen to produce the same letters.
Where the name lands by breed
Calico cats, tortoiseshell cats, and small mixed-breed dogs over-index on Cali. The two-syllable shape (KAH-lee) recalls cleanly and reads as friendly, which fits the small-and-active pet register most owners are aiming for. The name barely appears on the SSA baby chart, which is consistent with descriptor-coded pet names and keeps the pet-naming slot uncomplicated. The Cali baby name page shows the human chart for context. Owners cross-shopping similar names usually consider Coco and Cleo alongside Cali before settling.