The story behind 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, Russian: Лев (Lev), and Ukrainian: Лев (Lev).
Other language forms and explanations (1)
Icelandic entry
Derived from Old Norse Ari, from ari (“eagle”). Cognate with Norwegian Are.
Pronunciation
US English (ARPAbet): AA1 R IY0
Regional pronunciation variants
- Icelandic: [ˈaːrɪ]
This is a US English dictionary reading of the spelling; personal pronunciations may differ. Digits mark stress: 0 is unstressed, 1 is primary, 2 is secondary. Pronunciation source and notation.
Popularity
Ari ranked #614 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Ari
Adlai
From Hebrew עדלי (Adlai).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Airi
Invented at the end of the 19th century, either from airut (“herald”), or from place names like Airisto, Airikka (both also found as surnames), Airiselkä, at least some of them…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Áki
From Old Norse Áki, diminutive of Proto-Norse *ᚨᚾᚢᛉ (*anuʀ, “ancestor”) (as in the first part of the name Ólafur).
- 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
Eli
From Hebrew עֵלִי (“ascent”); cognate to the Arabic-derived Ali. From Latin Hēlī, ultimately from Biblical Hebrew עלי. Borrowed from Latin Heli, from Hebrew עֵלִי.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Levi
Ultimately from Biblical Hebrew לֵוִי (lēwî), of uncertain origin. Doublet of Lewi. From Hebrew לֵוִי. From Biblical Hebrew לֵוִי (Lēwī)
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Ari
Arie
Borrowed from Hebrew אַרְיֵה (aryé, “lion”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Bo
Either borrowed from modern Danish Bo or Swedish Bo, or a spelling variant of the male given name Beau. From Old Norse Búi (“dweller, long-time resident”), originally a…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Boaz
From Biblical Hebrew בֹּעַז (Bṓʿaz).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Ari
Bo
Either borrowed from modern Danish Bo or Swedish Bo, or a spelling variant of the male given name Beau. From Old Norse Búi (“dweller, long-time resident”), originally a…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends O
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Boaz
From Biblical Hebrew בֹּעַז (Bṓʿaz).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Bond
* As an English occupational surname, from the noun bond, bondman, reinforced by Old Norse bóndi (“peasant, farmer”). Also as a variant of Band. * As a Swedish surname, variant…
- Gender
- neutral
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends D
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection