Ali

Ali - A very unique male name

Ali appeared on the charts for the first time in 1944 on position #1424. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Ali and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Ali? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Ali. The baby boy name Ali was given to 1,090 baby boys in 2025, ranking #305 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 1,345 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Ali peaked in popularity 4 years ago in 2022 on position 301.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Ali, 1-5?

Ali is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Ali is currently topping the baby name charts in Michigan at position #50 - and is the least popular in Alabama at position #767.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Ali is where you live.

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Ali origin and meaning

Arabic

'Exalted, noble, high' — from the Arabic root for height and eminence

Ali is one of the most important names in Islam: Ali ibn Abi Talib, cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad and fourth caliph, made it a perennial choice across the Muslim world. It has been in US data since 1944 and is at its strongest now, reaching #305 after a 2022 peak in births, boosted in America by Muhammad Ali's fame.

Attested etymology

Ali is a 3 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Ali, pop culture references for the name Ali and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Ali

We've found the following names that sound similar to Ali, sorted by popularity.

Al / Allie / Aahil / Aly / Allah / Ahil / Aliou / Alaa / Aaliyah / Aliyah /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Ali

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Ali a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Ali?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

ah-LEE · /ɑˈli/

Around the world

• Ali (Turkish) — Used as-is in Turkish
• Ali (Persian) — Used as-is in Persian and Urdu

Spellings and nicknames

• Aly — Transliteration variant, also a surname spelling

Famous bearers

• Ali ibn Abi Talib — Cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad and fourth caliph of Islam (c. 600–661) Historical
• Muhammad Ali — American heavyweight boxing champion and activist; born Cassius Clay, he took the name Muhammad Ali after converting to Islam (1942–2016) Contemporary

Style

InternationalClassic

Why parents choose it

Ali is a short, weighty name of deep significance in Muslim tradition, now at its most used in the US.

Worth knowing

• In English it is often misread as the girls' nickname Allie (AL-ee) rather than ah-LEE.
• Its religious importance in Islam means the name carries real reverence for many families.