Boy · Arabic · Muslim · International
Ali
علیSay it ah-LEE
- Meaning
- High, elevated, lofty; also strong, powerful Lane, p. 2146–2147
- Say it
- ah-LEE
- Written
- علی
Ali
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Ali meaning
Ali (علی) is a Muslim and international boy's name of Arabic origin.
High, elevated, lofty; also strong, powerful
Ali (علی) is the Arabic ʿaliyy, from the root ʿ-l-w, "to be high". Lane glosses it as high, elevated or lofty, and also as strong or powerful, and notes its use as a man's name. With the article, al-ʿAliyy, "the Most High", is one of the names of God, used in the Throne Verse of the Quran (2:255). Name lists today give the same meaning, "high" or "exalted". The name's most revered bearer is ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, who was the fourth caliph (656–661) and, for Shia Muslims, the first imam. The Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, Iraq, is widely believed to stand over his grave.
Source: Lane, An Arabic–English Lexicon (1863–93), Book I, Part 5, p. 2146–2147 · entry ʿaliyy (عَلِيٌّ), root ʿ-l-w · See the entry
In the Quran: 2:255 (al-ʿaliyy (ٱلْعَلِىُّ)) · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Lane, An Arabic–English Lexicon, ʿaliyy (عَلِيٌّ), pp. 2146–2147 · Quran 2:255 · Britannica, ʿAlī · Britannica, Najaf
Famous namesakes
- ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib, cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet, fourth caliph and first Shia imam
Popularity abroad
- #306 United States, boys 2025 (up 17 from 323 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration - #103 England and Wales, boys 2025
Office for National Statistics
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.