The story behind Ali
From Arabic عَلِيّ (ʕaliyy, literally “high, exalted”), from the Arabic root ع ل ي (ʕ l y).
Other language forms and explanations (5)
Dutch entry
From Arabic عَلِيّ (ʕaliyy).
Finnish entry
From Arabic عَلِيّ (ʕaliyy) as a Muslim name.
Portuguese entry
From Old Galician-Portuguese Ali, from Arabic عَلِيّ (ʕaliyy).
Turkish entry
Inherited from Ottoman Turkish علی (ʿAlī), from Arabic عَلِيّ (ʕaliyy).
Indonesian entry
From Arabic عَلِيّ (ʕaliyy, literally “high, exalted”), from the Arabic root ع ل ي (ʕ l y)
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈɑːli/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Dutch: /ˈaːli/
- Dutch; uncommon: /aːˈli/
- Finnish: /ˈɑli/
- Finnish: [ˈɑ̝li]
- Portuguese; Brazil: /aˈli/
- Portuguese; Portugal: /ɐˈli/
- Turkish: /aˈli/
- Indonesian; Standard-Indonesian: /ˈali/
- Indonesian; Standard-Indonesian: [ˈa.li]
Popularity
Ali ranked #3463 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Ali
Alī
Borrowed from Classical Persian عَلِی (alī), from Arabic عَلِيّ (ʕaliyy).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Ī
- same syllable count
- similar length
Rami
Borrowed from Arabic رَامِي (rāmī), masculine singular construct form of رَامٍ (rāmin). This surname is predominantly found in Morocco and India.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Sami
Derived from Arabic سَامِي (sāmī), from the informal pronunciation of سَامٍ (sāmin, “high, exalted”). Derived from Arabic سَامٍ (sāmin, “high, elevated”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Angi
From Greek; compare Angie.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ari
Of the first sense, derives directly from Hebrew: אֲרִי (arí, “lion”); compare Yiddish: לייב (leyb, “Leib”), English: Leo, Leon, French: Léo, Léon, Czech: Lev, Polish: Lew,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Avi
From Hebrew אבי (Ávi, “father”), chiefly as a diminutive of אַבְרָהָם (Avrahám, “Abraham, lit. father of a multitude or exalted father”) and אַבְנֵר (Avnér, “Abner, lit. father…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Ali
Fahd
Borrowed from Arabic فَهْد (fahd).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends D
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Hind
Borrowed from Arabic هِنْد (hind).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends D
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Leya
Borrowed from Turkish Leya and Arabic لَيْيَا (layyā).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Ali
Fahd
Borrowed from Arabic فَهْد (fahd).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends D
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Hany
Borrowed from Arabic هَانِيّ (hāniyy), meaning "one who lives in happiness and tranquillity"; "the embellisher"; or "luscious".
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Hind
Borrowed from Arabic هِنْد (hind).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends D
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection