Name meaning & stats
Ali
Ali means “high, exalted” (Arabic origin). 44,810 US babies since 1940, peak 2014. Notable Alis are 2.2× over-represented as footballers.
What it means
“high, exalted”
ArabicWell documented
In US birth records
Peak year: 2014
44,810 US babies were named Ali between 1940 and 2025.
Where Alis end up
Not enough notable Alis yet, so this uses the spelling family: Ali, Ally, Aly.
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Footballer | 2.2× | High · 35 people |
| Professor | 1.3× | Medium · 14 people |
| Singer | 1.4× | Medium · 10 people |
| Musician | 1.2× | Medium · 10 people |
Among notable men who are footballers, the Ali family show up 2.2× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
Name twins (peaked around 2014)