What Does the Name Ali Mean?

Ali is a boy's name of Arabic origin meaning “high, elevated, exalted, sublime.”

Updated June 2026

Name	Ali
Gender	male
Origin	Arabic
Meaning	high, elevated, exalted, sublime
Variants	Aly, Alija, Alim
Popularity	Extremely common throughout the Muslim world (Arab, Turkish, Persian, South Asian); also used in the US, partly aided by boxer Muhammad Ali.

The meaning and origin of Ali

The name Ali means “high, elevated, exalted, sublime” and has Arabic origins. From the Arabic root meaning 'high' or 'exalted,' Ali was the name of Ali ibn Abi Talib, cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad and a central figure in Islam, especially in Shia tradition. It is one of the most widespread Muslim male names.

Variants and related names

Ali is related to several other names you may recognize: Aly, Alija, Alim. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.

How popular is the name Ali?

Extremely common throughout the Muslim world (Arab, Turkish, Persian, South Asian); also used in the US, partly aided by boxer Muhammad Ali.

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