Ali

عَلِيّ

Unisex Arabic /ah-LEE/ #2415 in 2023

Ali is a unisex name of Arabic origin.

Meaning of Ali

"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.

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.

Popularity of Ali

Popularity, 1914–2023

1,140 births in 2023

1914 2023

42,579 U.S. births recorded from 1914–2023. Used for both boys and girls — see notes below.

Peak year

2015

1,251 babies

First recorded

1914

109 years of history

Recent trend

Steady

Last 5 yrs vs. prior 5

Variants & nicknames

AlyAlee

Famous people named Ali

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

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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.