Ali
How to say it: AH-lee · /ˈɑli/
From Arabic meaning 'exalted, sublime, noble'; also used as a diminutive of Alice or Alison.
Ali was the 280th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 1,116 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up about 12% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #266 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #280 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 1,116 |
| Share of births | 1 in 2,505 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | +12% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #266 |
| In France, 2025 | #86 among boys’ names, 810 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Climbing steadily, Ali found its best showing in the 2020s. Standing at its peak, it is expected to keep rising.
What goes with it
With a brief open sound, Ali feels light and travels well. Omar makes a natural companion.
Middle names that flow with Ali →
Honouring a Ali in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Ali is about 1 in 105.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Arabic, English, French, Hebrew, Hindi, Turkish.
In France: #86 for boys in 2025.
England and Wales: #103. Ireland: #188.
Famous people named Ali
- Ali Bongo Ondimba (born 1959)President of Gabon
- Ali Abdullah Saleh (1947–2017)President of North Yemen (1978–1990) and Yemen
- Ali ibn al-Husayn Zayn al-'Abidin (659–713)Great-grandson of Muhammad and the fourth of the Shiite Imams
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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