You know her as the siren of bilingual soul, the woman who basically turned "Telepatía" into a global anthem without breaking a sweat. But long before she was selling out arenas or winning Grammys, she was just a girl from Virginia with a name that sounded a lot more traditional than the neon-soaked persona she carries now. Kali Uchis real name is Karly-Marina Loaiza.
It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue with the same rhythmic "cool" as Kali Uchis, does it? Karly-Marina Loaiza was born on July 17, 1994, in Alexandria, Virginia. If you’ve ever wondered why her music feels like a constant tug-of-war between American R&B and Colombian roots, it’s because her life has been exactly that. She spent her childhood bouncing between the suburbs of the U.S. and the city of Pereira, Colombia.
Honestly, the story of how Karly became Kali isn't some corporate rebranding strategy. It’s actually kinda sweet. It started as a childhood nickname given to her by her father. He used to call her "Karluchis." Over time, she trimmed the "Kar" and the "L," smoothed out the edges, and ended up with the stage name that eventually made her a household name.
Why Karly-Marina Loaiza Chose a New Identity
Most people think artists pick stage names because they hate their real ones. That’s not really the case here. For Karly-Marina, the shift was about reclaiming a version of herself. Growing up, she was the youngest of five siblings. Life wasn't always easy. Her parents, a Colombian father and an American mother (Betsy Loaiza Boteler, who sadly passed away recently in early 2025), provided a bicultural foundation, but Karly was always a bit of an outlier.
She was a jazz band kid. She played the saxophone and piano. But she was also the girl who got kicked out of her house at 17 and had to live in her Subaru Forester. When you're sleeping in a car and writing songs on a laptop, a name like Karly-Marina feels like a past life. Kali Uchis became the armor.
🔗 Read more: Emma Thompson and Family: What Most People Get Wrong About Her Modern Tribe
The Breakdown of the Name
- Karly: Her given first name.
- Marina: A middle name that hints at her bicultural upbringing.
- Loaiza: Her father's surname, which she remains incredibly proud of.
- Uchis: Derived from "Karluchis," the pet name her dad used.
The Cultural Tug-of-War
There’s this misconception that Kali Uchis is "just" a Latin artist. She’s actually been pretty vocal about how much that label bugs her. In several interviews, she’s mentioned that being pinned down to her ethnicity feels like being put in a box.
"I'm a Latina who makes music in English and Spanish," she’s said. It’s a nuance that matters. When she was Karly-Marina growing up in Virginia, she was often seen as "the Colombian girl." When she went to Pereira, she was "the American girl." She never quite fit anywhere perfectly.
That duality is why her discography is so messy in the best way possible. You have Isolation (2018), which felt like a hazy, English-dominated dream, followed by Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios), which was almost entirely in Spanish. She doesn't choose one side of her identity because she is both.
Fast Facts about the Artist Formerly Known Only as Karly
- Birthplace: Alexandria, Virginia.
- Heritage: Half-Colombian (Father), Half-American (Mother).
- Siblings: Youngest of five.
- First Big Break: The Drunken Babble mixtape in 2012, which she mostly produced herself.
Life in 2026: More Than Just a Name
As of right now, in 2026, the woman behind Kali Uchis real name has moved into a completely different phase of life. She’s no longer the indie underdog. She’s a mother now, sharing a son with her partner, rapper Don Toliver.
💡 You might also like: How Old Is Breanna Nix? What the American Idol Star Is Doing Now
Becoming a parent often makes people look back at their own upbringing with a different lens. For Kali, 2025 was a year of massive highs and devastating lows. She welcomed her first child, but she also lost her mother, Betsy, just a week before the baby's first birthday. That kind of emotional whiplash changes a person.
She’s spoken openly about "mother wounds" and "father wounds" in therapy. It’s heavy stuff. But it’s also why her music feels so much more grounded lately. She isn't just playing a character anymore. Whether she goes by Karly or Kali, the vulnerability is the same.
The Meaning Behind the Music
If you look at her latest work, like the 2024 album Orquídeas, you can see the influence of her real-world identity everywhere. The orchid is the national flower of Colombia. It’s a direct nod to the Loaiza side of her family.
She’s also been cleaning up at the awards shows lately. We're talking Grammy wins, Billboard Music Awards, and a massive presence on the 2026 festival circuit, including headlining spots at Governors Ball. She’s managed to do what very few artists can: stay true to a specific, niche aesthetic while becoming a massive commercial powerhouse.
📖 Related: Whitney Houston Wedding Dress: Why This 1992 Look Still Matters
What Most Fans Miss
Here’s the thing: people get caught up in the "Kali Uchis" brand. They see the vintage glamour, the winged eyeliner, and the low-rider culture influence. But if you look at her early DIY videos—the ones she filmed herself back in Virginia—you see Karly.
She was a director and a photographer before she was a "pop star." She used to edit her own videos on a cracked laptop screen. That work ethic didn’t come from a label; it came from a girl who knew she had to build her own world because she didn't fit into the one she was given.
Why It Matters
Knowing Kali Uchis real name isn't just about trivia. It’s about understanding the bridge between a suburban girl in Virginia and a global icon. It shows that the "Kali" persona isn't a fake mask—it’s an evolution of Karly.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into her world, don't just stop at the hits. Check out her early mixtape Drunken Babble. It’s raw, it’s unpolished, and it’s the closest you’ll get to hearing the transition from Karly-Marina Loaiza to the Kali Uchis we know today. You can also follow her current 2026 tour through Latin America and the U.S. to see how she’s blending these two identities on stage in real-time.
To truly appreciate her artistry, start by listening to her discography in chronological order—starting with Por Vida—to witness the literal sound of someone finding their voice and their name simultaneously.