Boy name
Ali name meaning
“high; exalted; eminent”
Ali means high, exalted, or eminent. It comes from Arabic ʿaliyy, a word belonging to the root associated with height and elevation. In Türkiye, it is a masculine given name. The poet Ali-Shir Nava'i provides a literary association, while Aliye is a related feminine name.
What does Ali mean?
High; exalted; eminent
In Turkish: yüksek, yüce, üstün
Ali evokes elevation and high standing beyond literal physical height. Its central historical association is Ali ibn Abi Talib. Stories about Ali in Turkish literature and oral tradition have given the name a substantial cultural presence across different genres and periods.
How popular is Ali?
Official figures: TÜİK newborn name lists (2018–2025, the top 30 for Türkiye and each of the 81 provinces every year) and the most common names in the population.
- 2025 rank (boys)
- 22.
- Babies given the name in 2025
- 2,341
- Best rank
- 11.2020
- Trend (2018–2025)
- falling
- Boys named Ali in Türkiye (2025)
- 736,478
Babies named Ali each year
Show as a table
| Year | Boys | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank | Babies | |
| 2018 | 12 | 4,321 |
| 2019 | 12 | 4,009 |
| 2020 | 11 | 3,882 |
| 2021 | 12 | 3,611 |
| 2022 | 12 | 3,507 |
| 2023 | 15 | 3,128 |
| 2024 | 21 | 2,616 |
| 2025 | 22 | 2,341 |
Where is Ali in the top 30?
81 provinces · the latest year each province listed it
Double names with Ali
Double names counted as one name in TÜİK newborn lists (all years and provinces combined).
Source: TurkStat (TÜİK), Address-Based Population Registration System. The lists cover the top 30 names per year, sex and province; no official counts are published for less common names. All statistics →
Why is Ali popular?
Ali has slipped in recent rankings after a relatively stable earlier period. Its very short, easy pronunciation and meaning of “high, exalted” give it a simple, enduring appeal.
Origin of the name Ali
Ali derives from Arabic ʿaliyy, meaning high or exalted. It belongs to the root family ʿ-l-w, associated with height and elevation.
| Linguistic origin | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Naming tradition | Islamic |
| In Islamic history | Names found in the Quran, Names of the Companions, Names of the Ahl al-Bayt |
| In Turkic history and myth | Names from Turkic epics |
| Is Ali in the Quran? | As a word · العلي · 2:255, 22:62The source word of Ali occurs in the Quran as العلي, an adjective expressing exaltedness, rather than a personal name. |
| Starts with | A · Al |
Names are shared across communities. Where a name is common says nothing certain about any one person’s background, faith or origin.
Double names with Ali
Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.
-
Ali Ziyaeddin
Meaning of each name
- Ali: high; exalted; eminent
- Ziyaeddin: light of the faith
-
Tevhit Ali
Meaning of each name
- Tevhit: unification; affirming the oneness of God
- Ali: high; exalted; eminent
-
Ali Muhsin
Meaning of each name
- Ali: high; exalted; eminent
- Muhsin: one who does good or acts well
-
Rıdvan Ali
Meaning of each name
- Rıdvan: pleasure; approval, contentment
- Ali: high; exalted; eminent
-
Ali Taha
Meaning of each name
- Ali: high; exalted; eminent
- Taha: letters opening a Quranic chapter
-
Mecit Ali
Meaning of each name
- Mecit: glorious, exalted, great in honour
- Ali: high; exalted; eminent
Double names found in TÜİK’s newborn lists: Ali Asaf, Muhammed Ali, Mehmet Ali, Yiğit Ali, Kerem Ali, Yusuf Ali.
How to pronounce Ali
| Syllables | 2 · 3 letters · 3-letter boy names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /ali/ |
| Ottoman Turkish | علی |
| Arabic | علي |
Is Ali a boy’s name?
Yes, Ali is used mostly as a boy’s name. See all boy names.
Ali appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists; among babies born in 2025 it ranked #22 (2,341 babies). See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
Spellings and similar names
Spellings covered by this page: Âli
Names that sound like Ali
Names with related meanings
Famous people named Ali
- Ali Fethi Okyar · b. 1880
- Ali Babacan · b. 1967
- Ali Sami Yen · b. 1886
- Ali Bozer · b. 1925
- Ali Rıza Paşa · b. 1860
- Ali Yerlikaya · b. 1968
- Hoca Ali Rıza · b. 1858
- Ali Fuat Cebesoy · b. 1882
- Ali Beratlıgil · b. 1931
- Ali Kaya · b. 1994
- Ali Kayalı · b. 1965
- Ali Erbaş · b. 1961
FAQ about the name Ali
What is the meaning of Ali?
Ali means “high; exalted; eminent”. Ali derives from Arabic ʿaliyy, meaning high or exalted. It belongs to the root family ʿ-l-w, associated with height and elevation.
Is Ali a boy’s name?
Yes, Ali is used mostly as a boy’s name.
Is Ali in the Quran?
As a word. The source word of Ali occurs in the Quran as العلي, an adjective expressing exaltedness, rather than a personal name. (e.g.: 2:255, 22:62)
What is the origin of the name Ali?
Ali is of Arabic origin.
How many syllables does Ali have?
Ali has 2 syllables and 3 letters.
How popular is the name Ali?
Ali appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists; among babies born in 2025 it ranked #22 (2,341 babies). See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
What are other spellings of Ali?
Other spellings: Âli.
What names go well with Ali?
Some ideas: Ali Ziyaeddin; Tevhit Ali; Ali Muhsin.
Famous people named Ali?
Notable people named Ali include Ali Fethi Okyar, Ali Babacan, Ali Sami Yen.
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm00006 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake