Ali
Ali is a girl's name of Arabic origin.
Meaning
High, exalted, or noble.
Origin and history
Ali is a name of Arabic origin meaning 'high', 'exalted', or 'noble'. While historically a prominent male given name in Islamic traditions, in the United States it has also gained steady usage for females, often serving as a full name or a short form for names like Alison or Alexandra. It maintains a consistent, understated presence in American naming charts.
Popularity in the United States
10,505 babies in the United States have been named Ali since 1880. It ranks #1586 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1628.
States where it is most popular
- CA (9.5 %)
- TX (9.4 %)
- PA (5.9 %)
- LA (5.8 %)
- OH (4.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 20 |
| 1970-1980 | 786 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,591 |
| 1990-2000 | 2,927 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,429 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,279 |
| 2020-2029 | 473 |
Famous people named Ali
- Ali Larter: Actress, Model
- Ali Wong: Comedian, Actress
- Ali MacGraw: Actress, Model
Fun facts
- While rooted in Arabic tradition as a major masculine name, in English-speaking regions Ali is widely adopted as an independent feminine name.
- Its rise for girls in the late 20th century coincided with the trend of using nickname-styled names ending in '-i' or '-ie' on official birth certificates.