Ali

“High, exalted” — Arabic origin

Boy's name · #306 in the US (2025) · Trending

Ali is climbing: on the charts since 1914, it is ranked #306 in 2025, with about 1,100 boys given the name last year. Roughly 34,000 have carried it all-time.

Around the world: #3 in Bosnia (FBiH) (2024) · #9 in Finland (other-lang.) (2025) · #22 in Türkiye (2025) · #47 in Australia (VIC) (2025) · #52 in Slovenia (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 38 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Alis

Ali Khamenei — cleric and former Supreme Leader of Iran from 1989 to 2026 (1939–2026)
Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib — 4th Rashidun Caliph (r. 656–661) and first Shia Imam
Ali Abdullah Saleh — President of North Yemen (1978–1990) and Yemen (1990–2012)
Ali Bongo Ondimba — President of Gabon (2009–2023)
Ali Larijani — Iranian politician and military officer (1958–2026)

In stories & tradition

Ali Baba — Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves · Indigo und die vierzig Räuber
Ali G — Da Ali G Show
Ali Osman — EastEnders

What Alis become

Among 5,595 notable people named Ali:

Political leaders appear 1.57× more often than among typical names — e.g. Ali Abdullah Saleh, President of North Yemen (1978–1990) and Yemen (1990–2012).

Similar names: Hassan · Halo · Riley · Mohamed · Abdullah · Yusuf

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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