A Name Story by Houdhoud
عَلِيّ
Ali
AH-lee
“Elevated, noble, exalted.”
About Ali
Ali is a Muslim baby boy's name meaning "elevated, noble, exalted", an Arabic name carried for centuries across the Muslim world.
From the Arabic root ع-ل-و. Borne by Ali ibn Abi Talib, cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet (peace be upon him), the fourth Rashidun Caliph.
Universally honored, especially in Shia families.
Spellings of Ali
| Spelling | Births in England and Wales, 2025 | Births in France, 2016 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Alithe spelling used on this page | 502 | 7,910 |
Babies registered with exactly that spelling. England and Wales: Office for National Statistics, 2025 (the list covers names given to 3 or more babies). France: INSEE Fichier des prénoms, 2016 to 2025 added together (INSEE rounds each yearly count to the nearest 5).
Origin & roots
Origin
Arabic
Gender
Boy
Root letters
In Arabic, root letters are the seed that gives a word its meaning. Every word built from them inherits that family of meaning, and Ali is one such word.
Across history
Who has carried Ali before.
- Ali ibn Abi Talib (601–661 CE), 4th Rashidun Caliph
How to say it
Stressed syllable in capitals
Discover names like Ali
Other names with the same heart: close in origin, sound, and spirit.
Common questions about Ali
- What does the name Ali mean?
- Ali (عَلِيّ) means "Elevated, noble, exalted". From the Arabic root ع-ل-و. Borne by Ali ibn Abi Talib, cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet (peace be upon him), the fourth Rashidun Caliph.
- Is Ali a name from the Qur'an?
- Houdhoud doesn't show a verse for this name. Ali is an Arabic name long carried across the Muslim world. We only show a Qur'anic verse when it's verified against the Tanzil corpus.
- Is Ali a boy or a girl name?
- Ali is traditionally a boy's name.
- Where does the name Ali come from?
- Ali is an Arabic name, built on the root letters ʿ-L-W. Universally honored, especially in Shia families.
Browse names like Ali
Collections Ali belongs to.
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