Ali
Ali was the 306th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,116 babies. Its best year was 2022, when it ranked 301st with 1,124 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 19 places. More babies were named Ali in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning high, exalted (Arabic); also short for Alison · Arabic, English
Say it AH-lee /ˈɑli/
- Rank in 2025
- #306 boys, up 18 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 1,116boys
- Girls and boys
- 7% girls, 93% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20221,124 babies
- Total since 1880
- 44,888babies recorded
What does the name Ali mean?
Ali is an Arabic name from ʿaliyy, "high, exalted", from the root ʿ-l-y, "to be high". It is the name of Ali ibn Abi Talib, cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, whom Shia Muslims regard as his first rightful successor. The Quran calls God al-ʿAliyy, "the Most High" (for example 2:255). Separately, Ali (often said AL-ee) is an English short form of Alison or Alexandra for girls, and of Alistair for boys.
عَلِيّ (Arabic, “high, exalted”)
How sure is this? Well established. Two unrelated sources: the Arabic name and the English short form.
Related names: Aly, Alison, Alia.
See also: Arabic names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Ali', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Qur'an 2:255, Arabic text with word-by-word translation (quran.com), Quran.com
- Dictionary.com Unabridged (based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary), with Collins English Dictionary, s.v. 'Ali', Dictionary.com / Random House / HarperCollins
Ali popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,463 | #306 | 44 | 1,116 |
| 2020 | #2,006 | #324 | 93 | 1,017 |
| 2010 | #724 | #357 | 387 | 850 |
| 2000 | #919 | #380 | 235 | 684 |
| 1990 | #688 | #472 | 308 | 440 |
| 1980 | #1,657 | #545 | 69 | 249 |
| 1970 | #2,308 | #911 | 33 | 77 |
| 1960 | #5,706 | #1,619 | 6 | 25 |
| 1950 | — | #2,021 | — | 14 |
| 1940 | — | #2,672 | — | 8 |
| 1930 | — | #3,296 | — | 7 |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Ali, counting every spelling?
Ali is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #272 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #306 for Ali on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,334 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ali | 1,116 | #306 | 5,330 |
| Ollie | 207 | #1,058 | 1,029 |
| Olly | 11 | #7,543 | 54 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Ali?
1,116 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Ali (0.31 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Ali born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 8 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Ali.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Ali?
About 33,400 people born in the US named Ali are alive today, with a median age of 17; half are between 8 and 29. That makes Ali mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Ali by state
How common Ali was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Michigan (5.6×), District of Columbia (2.7×), New York (2.0×), Virginia (1.8×), Illinois (1.6×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Ali: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Ali, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Ali · Sibling names for Ali
Ali is also a nickname for Aliza, Allison and Alicia.
Questions about the name Ali
What does Ali mean?
Ali means “high, exalted (Arabic); also short for Alison” (Arabic, English origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Ali?
Ali was the 306th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,116 babies. Its best year was 2022, when it ranked 301st with 1,124 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 19 places. More babies were named Ali in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Ali a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 7% girls, 93% boys given the name Ali in the US.
Where is Ali most popular?
In 2021–2025, Ali was most common in Michigan (3.47 per 1,000 boys), followed by District of Columbia and New York.