Ari

Ari - A very unique male name

Ari appeared on the charts for the first time in 1958 on position #1585. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Ari and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Ari? 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 Ari. The baby boy name Ari was given to 764 baby boys in 2025, ranking #402 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 1,919 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Ari peaked in popularity 4 years ago in 2022 on position 332.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Ari, 1-5?

Ari is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Ari is currently topping the baby name charts in District of Columbia at position #97 - and is the least popular in Wisconsin at position #788.

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 Ari is where you live.

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Ari origin and meaning

Hebrew, Norse and other languages

In Hebrew, Ari means 'lion'; it is also an Old Norse short form and an Armenian name

Ari is a small name with several real roots, most commonly Hebrew ari, 'lion,' and use as a short form of Aristotle, Arius and other names. It has been in US data since 1958, peaked in 2022, and remains a compact cross-cultural choice.

Attested etymology

Ari is a 3 letter name with 2 syllables.

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

Similar to Ari

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

Aryeh / Arya / Arrow / Arie / Ara / Aria / Arye / Aero / Ario / Aarya /

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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 Ari

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 Ari 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 Ari?

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

AR-ee · /ˈɑːri/

Around the world

• Ari (Hebrew) — The Hebrew name meaning 'lion'
• Ari (Greek) — Used as a short form of Aristotle and Aristides

Famous bearers

• Ari Aster — Filmmaker, director of Hereditary and Midsommar (b. 1986) Contemporary
• Ari Shapiro — Journalist and co-host of NPR's All Things Considered (b. 1978) Contemporary

Style

InternationalShort form

Why parents choose it

Two letters' worth of sound, a lion's meaning in Hebrew, and an easy fit in many languages.

Worth knowing

• Often taken for a nickname for Ariel, Ariana or Aristotle, and used for girls too.