Is Ali a boy or a girl name?

Ali is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 24% of children given the name Ali are girls and 76% are boys.

How popular is the name Ali in 2023?

Ali ranks #2416 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2014 with 1,251 babies.

How do you pronounce Ali?

Ali is pronounced ah-LEE (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Ali?

Ali is also written as Aly, Alee.

A name from Arabic · Unisex

Ali

عَلِيّ

"Elevated, high, noble." Al-ʿAlī is one of the 99 Names of Allah ("the Most High"). Name of the Prophet's cousin and son-in-law, the fourth caliph, and the central figure of Shia Islam.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 109-year arc in numbers.

42,591 U.S. births recorded from 1914–2023.

Popularity · 1914–2023

1,140 births in 2023

1914 1968 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

A"Elevated, high, noble." Al-ʿAlī is one of the 99 Names of Allah ("the Most High"). Name of the Prophet's cousin and son-in-law, the fourth caliph, and the central figure of Shia Islam.

Etymology, in one line

Arabic root: ʿ-l-w — ع-ل-و, elevation, highness

Regional variants

Particularly honored among Shia Muslims but widely given across the entire Muslim world. Short enough to feel at home on a US school roster.

Variants & spellings

2 ways to spell "Ali".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Aly Most common Alee

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Ali.

A
Ali ibn Abi Talib (4th caliph)
A
Muhammad Ali (boxer)

Quick answers

People often ask about Ali.

What does the name Ali mean?: Ali means "Elevated, high, noble." Al-ʿAlī is one of the 99 Names of Allah ("the Most High"). Name of the Prophet's cousin and son-in-law, the fourth caliph, and the central figure of Shia Islam.
Where does the name Ali come from?: Ali is a unisex name of Arabic origin. Particularly honored among Shia Muslims but widely given across the entire Muslim world.
Is Ali a boy or a girl name?: Ali is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 24% of children given the name Ali are girls and 76% are boys.
How popular is the name Ali in 2023?: Ali ranks #2416 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2014 with 1,251 babies.
How do you pronounce Ali?: Ali is pronounced ah-LEE (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Ali?: Ali is also written as Aly, Alee.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meaning and cultural context drawn from classical sources: Lisan al-Arab, Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Qur'an and Sunnah. If you spot an error, please let us know.