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Ali as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Ali

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The baby name Ali is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced Common: "AH-lee" (English: /ˈæli/ or /ˈɑːli/); Arabic: ʻAlī (/ʕaˈliː/).

Ali is Arabic in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: Common: "AH-lee" (English: /ˈæli/ or /ˈɑːli/); Arabic: ʻAlī (/ʕaˈliː/)

What is the meaning of the name Ali ?

The baby name Ali is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced Common: "AH-lee" (English: /ˈæli/ or /ˈɑːli/); Arabic: ʻAlī (/ʕaˈliː/).

Ali is Arabic in Origin.

Ali (Arabic: ʿAlī) stems from the Semitic root ʿ-L-W, signifying “high, exalted, noble.” Its stature in the Islamic world rests on ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (c. 600–661), cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, fourth caliph and first Imam in Shiʿa Islam. Reverence for him propelled the name across Arabic, Persian, Turkic, and South Asian cultures, keeping it among the most enduring male names from early Islam to the present.

Spellings and transliterations include ’Ali and Aly; related feminine forms are Aliya/Aaliyah (Arabic “exalted,” distinct from Hebrew Aliyah). Regional variants and compounds abound - Ali Reza, Ali Akbar, Mehmet Ali - and diminutives or cognates appear in Hausa (Aliyu). In English usage, Ali can also be a nickname for Alison, Alice, or Alistair, giving it occasional unisex status. The name functions as both given name and surname in many diasporic communities.

Ali has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Ali

Ali Khamenei Politician · Born 1939 · Iran Ali Khamenei is an Iranian politician who has served as the Supreme Leader of Iran since 1989, making him one of the most influential figures in the country. Before becoming Supreme Leader, he was the President of Iran from 1981 to 1989. Mohammad Ali Jinnah Politician · Born 1876 · Pakistan Mohammad Ali Jinnah is most famous for being the founding father of Pakistan. He played a crucial role in the creation of Pakistan as a separate nation for Muslims in the Indian subcontinent. Jinnah served as the leader of the All-India Muslim League and became Pakistan's first Governor-General in 1947. Ali Abdullah Saleh Politician · Born 1947 · Yemen Ali Abdullah Saleh was a prominent Yemeni politician who served as the President of Yemen for over three decades, from 1978 to 2012. He played a key role in the unification of North and South Yemen in 1990. His tenure ended during the Arab Spring protests, which led to his resignation.
Ali Bongo Ondimba Politician · Born 1959 · Gabon Ali Bongo Ondimba is best known as the President of Gabon, a position he has held since 2009. He is the son of Omar Bongo, the country's previous long-serving president. Ali Bongo has focused on economic diversification and infrastructure development during his tenure. Mahershala Ali Musician · Born 1974 · United States Mahershala Ali is an American actor best known for acclaimed film roles in Moonlight, Green Book, and True Detective. He has won two Academy Awards along with honors including a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, and a Primetime Emmy. Ali Larter Actor · Born 1976 · United States Ali Larter is an American actress and former model, best known for roles in Final Destination, Heroes, and Resident Evil: Extinction. She first drew attention portraying the fictional model Allegra Coleman in a 1996 Esquire hoax and also appeared in several TV guest roles during the 1990s.

Ali – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2025 #1 836
Ireland Girls 2025 #1 874
Germany Boys 2025 #1 423
BH 0 #1 14,608 17,937
IQ Boys 0 #1 156,954 13,071
IQ 0 #1 2,372 3,533
IR Boys 0 #1 58,740 10,162
LB 0 #1 40,586 13,263
KW Boys 0 #2 26,893 18,755
SY 0 #2 58,638 11,684
AF 0 #3 246 1,883
AF Boys 0 #3 2,060 3,535
DJ 0 #3 21 322
DJ Boys 0 #3 132 657
ET 0 #3 4 246
LY 0 #3 27,783 12,703
MV 0 #3 107 644
MV Boys 0 #3 1,508 3,375
OM 0 #3 652 6,215
OM Boys 0 #3 27,695 17,948
SA Boys 0 #3 161,184 28,008
TN 0 #3 46,528 13,765
YE 0 #3 17,559 8,639
AE 0 #4 1,056 10,220
AE Boys 0 #4 40,866 22,615
AZ Boys 0 #4 594 1,400
DZ 0 #4 63,644 20,130
KW 0 #4 589 5,216
QA 0 #4 325 7,011
SA 0 #4 3,455 10,560
SD Boys 0 #4 18,042 10,523
TR 0 #4 294,114 19,440
BN Boys 0 #5 368 6,332
JO Boys 0 #5 15,486 7,057
SD 0 #5 426 2,130
AZ 0 #6 51 706
BF 0 #6 5 188
FJ 0 #6 1 374
JO 0 #6 529 2,158
KH Girls 0 #6 1 148
PS Boys 0 #6 7,425 10,655
QA Boys 0 #6 11,512 18,093
EG Boys 0 #7 165,849 15,035
ET Boys 0 #8 22 678
IL Boys 0 #8 6,569 10,983
IQ Girls 0 #8 7,469 11,303
FJ Girls 0 #9 1 583
KH Boys 0 #9 1 270
BF Boys 0 #10 26 439
MV Girls 0 #10 32 2,021
TM Boys 0 #10 35 614
KZ Boys 0 #12 2,033 6,578
DJ Girls 0 #14 15 488
GR Boys 0 #14 1,857 6,912
BN 0 #15 17 2,297
EG 0 #15 4,078 6,387
ID Boys 0 #15 170 4,130
ET Girls 0 #16 1 372
FJ Boys 0 #16 2 603
MA 0 #17 92,600 20,986
BW 0 #18 2 960
IR 0 #18 976 4,221
GE Boys 0 #19 167 2,055
OM Girls 0 #19 1,151 15,987
MY Boys 0 #20 10,423 25,439
SA Girls 0 #20 6,896 25,931
BG Boys 0 #21 890 3,850
BD Boys 0 #22 4,666 10,045
BD 0 #22 439 5,992
CM 0 #22 34 2,592
ID 0 #22 18 2,238
GE 0 #24 21 997
AF Girls 0 #25 92 2,402
AE Girls 0 #28 1,503 20,968
NA 0 #33 1 2,537
HN Girls 0 #35 4 884
TM Girls 0 #35 1 574
KW Girls 0 #36 1,135 19,177
DK Boys 0 #39 1,559 7,401
MT 0 #39 5 1,767
AL Boys 0 #40 663 5,122
BI Boys 0 #42 3 917
RU Boys 0 #43 4,590 12,621
Germany Boys 0 #44 12,405 5,697
AL 0 #46 30 2,372
SI Boys 0 #46 260 3,402
CY Boys 0 #47 118 3,473
PS 0 #47 238 5,692
QA Girls 0 #48 415 15,378
NG Boys 0 #49 9,289 16,906
Austria Boys 0 #51 2,294 2,180
MO 0 #51 2 2,706
GR 0 #52 114 3,911
HN Boys 0 #52 1 749
PR 0 #55 1 1,497
CY 0 #56 5 1,632
MT Boys 0 #57 170 4,064
AO 0 #58 19 2,729
BG 0 #59 22 1,799
AZ Girls 0 #61 14 1,051
CN 0 #61 25 3,857
JP 0 #62 16 4,057
Iceland Boys 0 #63 11 131
KZ 0 #63 29 1,452
LU 0 #64 3 2,830
IN 0 #66 6 2,963
CM Boys 0 #67 1,763 12,054
GH 0 #67 259 5,396
SI 0 #67 13 1,612
Canada Boys 2024 #68 383 2,588
NL Boys 0 #68 7,286 5,873
JP Boys 0 #69 350 7,909
SG Boys 0 #71 1,905 17,960
Belgium Boys 2024 #72 126 401
France Boys 2021 #74 786 2,865
GH Boys 0 #75 848 8,138
Sweden Boys 2022 #78 127 1,509
IR Girls 0 #78 1,777 8,334
Finland Boys 0 #80 1,444 2,041
MD Boys 0 #80 2 756
LT 0 #83 6 949
CN Boys 0 #84 375 9,639
RS 0 #84 1 923
BN Girls 0 #87 20 5,459
HU Boys 0 #90 126 3,954
GE Girls 0 #91 14 1,564
JM 0 #91 3 3,714
MD Girls 0 #92 1 865
DK 0 #93 134 5,198
Switzerland Boys 2024 #94 44 1,769
TW 0 #95 9 4,523
Norway Boys 2025 #96 42 444
ID Girls 0 #102 1 3,319
NG 0 #102 181 5,926
PH 0 #104 7 5,607
EC 0 #106 10 2,502
SD Girls 0 #107 434 7,678
LU Boys 0 #109 117 4,970
EE Boys 0 #110 16 2,087
HU 0 #110 6 1,675
Germany 0 #115 551 2,542
IL 0 #119 189 6,291
PA 0 #120 11 3,797
LT Boys 0 #121 30 2,166
BW Boys 0 #122 28 4,685
CY Girls 0 #122 4 3,755
TW Boys 0 #125 136 7,111
Austria 0 #126 93 850
CR 0 #126 33 5,526
MU 0 #129 9 3,613
RS Boys 0 #129 26 2,277
EG Girls 0 #131 5,439 14,742
MU Boys 0 #135 289 8,477
RS Girls 0 #136 2 1,651
EE Girls 0 #137 6 1,888
Spain Boys 0 #139 4,280 5,610
AO Boys 0 #140 114 5,568
JO Girls 0 #144 316 7,570
BW Girls 0 #146 6 4,216
MT Girls 0 #147 7 3,773
IN Boys 0 #151 2,971 16,750
RU 0 #152 38 3,641
MY 0 #153 192 12,352
UY 0 #157 21 2,477
IT Boys 0 #158 13,690 10,046
NL 0 #158 282 2,481
PR Girls 0 #166 2 3,171
CZ 0 #167 19 3,154
GR Girls 0 #169 74 6,293
AR 0 #172 15 2,915
SI Girls 0 #173 5 2,769
CZ Boys 0 #177 154 6,530
HR 0 #177 5 2,081
PR Boys 0 #177 2 2,508
BG Girls 0 #178 47 3,559
BD Girls 0 #182 236 8,413
LU Girls 0 #184 7 4,850
LT Girls 0 #185 10 1,904
Finland Boys 2026 #187 2,091 3,552
ZA Boys 0 #196 3,253 25,619
AL Girls 0 #198 25 4,141
MO Boys 0 #201 23 5,842
PL Boys 0 #201 155 6,459
PL 0 #202 11 2,600
NA Boys 0 #203 33 6,830
GH Girls 0 #207 133 6,973
EC Girls 0 #209 31 3,650
AO Girls 0 #210 8 4,575
NA Girls 0 #213 12 7,146
PH Boys 0 #214 187 11,440
HU Girls 0 #219 7 3,308
Spain 0 #223 286 2,326
KZ Girls 0 #224 104 5,862
JM Girls 0 #225 35 7,507
EC Boys 0 #227 13 3,322
HK Boys 0 #227 509 12,905
SG 0 #227 43 11,010
HR Boys 0 #228 31 3,997
JP Girls 0 #234 12 6,592
PT 0 #236 11 4,161
TW Girls 0 #239 38 8,139
MO Girls 0 #241 11 7,056
CZ Girls 0 #243 101 5,378
Finland 0 #255 53 830
JM Boys 0 #259 14 6,876
PT Boys 0 #263 114 7,951
GT 0 #265 50 5,948
PL Girls 0 #269 87 5,096
PE 0 #272 39 6,350
Canada Girls 2023 #275 5 2,824
DK Girls 0 #277 40 7,429
MU Girls 0 #282 70 8,539
UY Girls 0 #288 275 6,731
HR Girls 0 #291 4 3,687
MX 0 #294 123 8,339
RU Girls 0 #294 245 11,913
United States Boys 2024 #297 1,061 7,044
CN Girls 0 #300 50 8,829
Spain Girls 0 #300 1,422 5,561
AR Girls 0 #313 393 8,289
BO 0 #315 67 6,868
PS Girls 0 #315 233 10,981
BO Girls 0 #322 358 9,488
GT Girls 0 #322 199 7,500
BR 0 #324 22 5,969
CR Girls 0 #326 221 11,342
HK 0 #326 23 8,483
NG Girls 0 #332 715 15,093
Austria Girls 0 #333 88 1,885
MX Girls 0 #337 2,419 17,781
Finland Girls 0 #339 53 1,368
ZA 0 #343 105 14,421
PH Girls 0 #348 43 13,098
PA Boys 0 #349 137 9,305
CM Girls 0 #350 199 11,671
CL 0 #353 59 6,867
CR Boys 0 #362 130 10,188
IT 0 #362 489 4,183
UY Boys 0 #362 38 5,922
PA Girls 0 #397 85 9,861
NL Girls 0 #399 776 5,933
AR Boys 0 #402 66 7,628
France Girls 2021 #403 3 3,185
IL Girls 0 #407 224 11,648
PE Girls 0 #424 807 14,861
IN Girls 0 #425 213 13,121
CO 0 #430 51 7,768
CO Boys 0 #433 699 15,656
PT Girls 0 #435 17 7,952
GT Boys 0 #452 23 7,625
PE Boys 0 #458 593 14,506
BO Boys 0 #473 121 9,244
CL Girls 0 #476 444 14,098
CL Boys 0 #482 193 13,390
Germany Girls 0 #483 437 4,949
SG Girls 0 #484 103 18,916
HK Girls 0 #486 130 16,104
MY Girls 0 #507 571 24,821
MX Boys 0 #534 578 16,355
BR Boys 0 #547 214 12,213
IT Girls 0 #584 1,405 9,415
CO Girls 0 #712 415 16,140
United States Girls 2024 #847 70 8,487
ZA Girls 0 #876 266 25,928
BR Girls 0 #902 40 12,708

Ali is popular in 100 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Norway
Scotland, United Kingdom
Ireland
Canada

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People also ask about Ali

Ali is predominantly a boy's name.
Ali is a 2 syllable name, pronounced Common: "AH-lee" (English: /ˈæli/ or /ˈɑːli/); Arabic: ʻAlī (/ʕaˈliː/).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Alī, Aly, Alee and 'Ali.
Yes, very popular — Ali ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 12 countries.
Ali ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Ali's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #127 in 2011 to #74 in 2021 in France.
Yes — 28 notable people named Ali are in our database, including Ali Khamenei (Politician), Mohammad Ali Jinnah (Politician), Ali Abdullah Saleh (Politician).