Ali

See also: Appendix:Variations of "ali"

English

Etymology 1

From Arabic عَلِيّ (ʕaliyy, literally “high, exalted”), from the Arabic root ع ل ي (ʕ l y).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɑːli/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑːli

Proper noun

Ali (plural Alis)

1. A male given name from Arabic.
3. (Islam) The Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib, considered by Shias to be Muhammad's first successor (imam).

   Synonym: (birth name & common epithet in Shia literature) Haydar

4. A surname from Arabic.

Derived terms

• Ali Baba
• Alid
• Alikhan
• Chemical Ali
• Comical Ali

Translations

male given name from Arabic

• Amharic: ዓሊ (ʿali)
• Arabic: عَلِيّ (ar) m (ʕaliyy)
• Aramaic:

  Hebrew script: 𐡏𐡋𐡉 (ʿly)

  Syriac: ܥܠܝ

• Azerbaijani: Əli (az)
• Bashkir: Ғәли (Ğäliy)
• Bengali: আলী (bn) (alī)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 阿里 (zh) (Ālǐ)

• Dutch: Ali (nl)
• Esperanto: Eljo
• Finnish: Ali (fi)
• French: Ali (fr) m
• German: Ali (de) m
• Hausa: Ali m
• Hebrew: עֵלִי (he) m (Elí)
• Hindi: अली (hi) m (alī)
• Italian: Alì m
• Japanese: アリ (ja) (Ari)
• Kazakh: Әли (Äliy)
• Korean: 알리 (Alli)
• Kurdish:

  Northern Kurdish: Elî (ku)

• Kyrgyz: Аалы (Aalı), Али (Ali)
• Malay: Ali
• Marathi: अली m (alī)
• Old South Arabian: 𐩲𐩡𐩺 (ʿly)
• Pashto: علي
• Persian: علی (fa) ('ali)
• Polish: Ali (pl) m
• Portuguese: Ali m
• Russian: Али́ (ru) m (Alí)
• Somali: Cali
• Spanish: Alí m
• Swahili: Ali
• Tajik: Алӣ (tg) (Ali)
• Telugu: అలీ (alī)
• Turkish: Ali (tr)
• Ukrainian: Алі́ f (Alí)
• Urdu: علی (ur) m
• Uyghur: ئەلى (eli)

Etymology 2

Shortening.

Alternative forms

• Aly, Alee, Allie

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈæli/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æli

Proper noun

Ali (plural Alis)

1. A diminutive of the female given name Alison or of its variants.
2. A diminutive of the male given name Alistair or of its variants.

Etymology 3

Borrowed from Mandarin 阿里 (Ālǐ).

Pronunciation

• enPR: ä′lē′
• Hyphenation: A‧li

Proper noun

Ali

1. Synonym of Ngari: the Mandarin Chinese-derived name.
   • 2000, “To Kailash”, in Atsushi Kanamaru, editor, Mapping the Tibetan World‎^[1], 1st edition, Kotan Publishing, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 136, column 1:

     The Ngari area is now known as the Ali Prefecture of the TAR. Commonly called Ali, the Chinese-built town of Shiquanhe is the administrative center of the area. […]
     Although the area of Ali Prefecture is around the same size as Italy or the state of Arizona (300,000 sq km), it is dominated by the barren Changthang Plateau and is sparsely populated with only approximately 70,000 people.

   • 2012 October 20, “Staring at the sun from the roof of the world”, in South China Morning Post‎^[2], →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 14 December 2024, China:

     Liu cursed the lifeless wasteland around them. This wasn't another planet, it was Ali prefecture, Tibet. Altitude: 4,500 metres. And these astronomers were on a mission.

   • 2025 July 16, Ling Xin, “China joins US in hunt for ripples in spacetime with new telescope in Tibet”, in South China Morning Post‎^[3], →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 16 July 2025, Science:

     The Ali Cosmic Microwave Background Polarisation Telescope (AliCPT), perched at 5,250 metres (17,220 ft) in Tibet’s remote Ali prefecture, was finished this month after eight years of construction involving 16 institutions worldwide, including Stanford University, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:Ali.

Statistics

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Ali is the 559th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 60,002 individuals. Ali is most common among Asian/Pacific Islander (42.91%), Black (30.71%) and White (17.33%) individuals.

Anagrams

• -ial, IAL, LIA, Lai, ail, lai

Albanian

Proper noun

Ali m

1. a male given name

Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈaːli/, (less common) /aːˈli/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Ali
• Rhymes: -aːli

Etymology 1

From Arabic عَلِيّ (ʕaliyy).

Proper noun

Ali m

1. a male given name from Arabic, equivalent to English Ali
   • 1978, “Ajoen Ajoen”, in Anton Beuving (lyrics), Harry Bannink (music), Weerzien met Indië‎^[4], performed by Wieteke van Dort:

     Ga niet baden daar in de kali / en ga niet trouwen daar in Pesapen / Laat je raden, m'n kleine Ali / wanneer ik jou met raad van dienst wil zijn

     Don't go bathing out there in the river / and don't get married out there in Pesapen / Take good counsel, my little Ali / when I wish to be of service to you with advice

Derived terms

• Ali Chemicali
• Ali en Fatima

Etymology 2

From Adelheid.

Proper noun

Ali f

1. a female given name, equivalent to English Ethel, most common in the mid-twentieth century
   • 1956, “Ali Cyaankali”, in Annie M.G. Schmidt (lyrics), Cor Lemaire (music), De Familie Doorsnee‎^[5], performed by Lia Dorana:

     Ik ben Ali Cyaankali / De gevaarlijke vrouw van Rotterdam / En kijk ik es fijn gaan / Op de Lijnbaan / Ik zet iedereen in vuur en vlam

     I am Cyanide Ali / The dangerous woman of Rotterdam / And look at me swaggering / About the Lijnbaan / I set everyone's heart on fire

Anagrams

• Lia

Finnish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɑli/, [ˈɑ̝li]
• Rhymes: -ɑli
• Syllabification^(key): A‧li
• Hyphenation^(key): A‧li

Etymology 1

A diminutive form of Aleksanteri.

Proper noun

Ali

1. (now rare) a male given name

Declension

Inflection of Ali (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)
nominative		Ali	Alit
genitive		Alin	Alien
partitive		Alia	Aleja
illative		Aliin	Aleihin
		singular	plural
nominative		Ali	Alit
accusative	nom.	Ali	Alit
	gen.	Alin
genitive		Alin	Alien
partitive		Alia	Aleja
inessive		Alissa	Aleissa
elative		Alista	Aleista
illative		Aliin	Aleihin
adessive		Alilla	Aleilla
ablative		Alilta	Aleilta
allative		Alille	Aleille
essive		Alina	Aleina
translative		Aliksi	Aleiksi
abessive		Alitta	Aleitta
instructive		—	Alein
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of Ali (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Alini Alini accusative nom. Alini Alini gen. Alini genitive Alini Alieni partitive Aliani Alejani inessive Alissani Aleissani elative Alistani Aleistani illative Aliini Aleihini adessive Alillani Aleillani ablative Aliltani Aleiltani allative Alilleni Aleilleni essive Alinani Aleinani translative Alikseni Aleikseni abessive Alittani Aleittani instructive — — comitative — Aleineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Alisi Alisi accusative nom. Alisi Alisi gen. Alisi genitive Alisi Aliesi partitive Aliasi Alejasi inessive Alissasi Aleissasi elative Alistasi Aleistasi illative Aliisi Aleihisi adessive Alillasi Aleillasi ablative Aliltasi Aleiltasi allative Alillesi Aleillesi essive Alinasi Aleinasi translative Aliksesi Aleiksesi abessive Alittasi Aleittasi instructive — — comitative — Aleinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Alimme Alimme accusative nom. Alimme Alimme gen. Alimme genitive Alimme Aliemme partitive Aliamme Alejamme inessive Alissamme Aleissamme elative Alistamme Aleistamme illative Aliimme Aleihimme adessive Alillamme Aleillamme ablative Aliltamme Aleiltamme allative Alillemme Aleillemme essive Alinamme Aleinamme translative Aliksemme Aleiksemme abessive Alittamme Aleittamme instructive — — comitative — Aleinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Alinne Alinne accusative nom. Alinne Alinne gen. Alinne genitive Alinne Alienne partitive Alianne Alejanne inessive Alissanne Aleissanne elative Alistanne Aleistanne illative Aliinne Aleihinne adessive Alillanne Aleillanne ablative Aliltanne Aleiltanne allative Alillenne Aleillenne essive Alinanne Aleinanne translative Aliksenne Aleiksenne abessive Alittanne Aleittanne instructive — — comitative — Aleinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative Alinsa Alinsa accusative nom. Alinsa Alinsa gen. Alinsa genitive Alinsa Aliensa partitive Aliaan Aliansa Alejaan Alejansa inessive Alissaan Alissansa Aleissaan Aleissansa elative Alistaan Alistansa Aleistaan Aleistansa illative Aliinsa Aleihinsa adessive Alillaan Alillansa Aleillaan Aleillansa ablative Aliltaan Aliltansa Aleiltaan Aleiltansa allative Alilleen Alillensa Aleilleen Aleillensa essive Alinaan Alinansa Aleinaan Aleinansa translative Alikseen Aliksensa Aleikseen Aleiksensa abessive Alittaan Alittansa Aleittaan Aleittansa instructive — — comitative — Aleineen Aleinensa

Etymology 2

From Arabic عَلِيّ (ʕaliyy) as a Muslim name.

Proper noun

Ali

1. a male given name from Arabic, practically exclusively used by Tatars or Muslim immigrants

Declension

Inflection of Ali (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)
nominative		Ali	Alit
genitive		Alin	Alien
partitive		Alia	Aleja
illative		Aliin	Aleihin
		singular	plural
nominative		Ali	Alit
accusative	nom.	Ali	Alit
	gen.	Alin
genitive		Alin	Alien
partitive		Alia	Aleja
inessive		Alissa	Aleissa
elative		Alista	Aleista
illative		Aliin	Aleihin
adessive		Alilla	Aleilla
ablative		Alilta	Aleilta
allative		Alille	Aleille
essive		Alina	Aleina
translative		Aliksi	Aleiksi
abessive		Alitta	Aleitta
instructive		—	Alein
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of Ali (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Alini Alini accusative nom. Alini Alini gen. Alini genitive Alini Alieni partitive Aliani Alejani inessive Alissani Aleissani elative Alistani Aleistani illative Aliini Aleihini adessive Alillani Aleillani ablative Aliltani Aleiltani allative Alilleni Aleilleni essive Alinani Aleinani translative Alikseni Aleikseni abessive Alittani Aleittani instructive — — comitative — Aleineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Alisi Alisi accusative nom. Alisi Alisi gen. Alisi genitive Alisi Aliesi partitive Aliasi Alejasi inessive Alissasi Aleissasi elative Alistasi Aleistasi illative Aliisi Aleihisi adessive Alillasi Aleillasi ablative Aliltasi Aleiltasi allative Alillesi Aleillesi essive Alinasi Aleinasi translative Aliksesi Aleiksesi abessive Alittasi Aleittasi instructive — — comitative — Aleinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Alimme Alimme accusative nom. Alimme Alimme gen. Alimme genitive Alimme Aliemme partitive Aliamme Alejamme inessive Alissamme Aleissamme elative Alistamme Aleistamme illative Aliimme Aleihimme adessive Alillamme Aleillamme ablative Aliltamme Aleiltamme allative Alillemme Aleillemme essive Alinamme Aleinamme translative Aliksemme Aleiksemme abessive Alittamme Aleittamme instructive — — comitative — Aleinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Alinne Alinne accusative nom. Alinne Alinne gen. Alinne genitive Alinne Alienne partitive Alianne Alejanne inessive Alissanne Aleissanne elative Alistanne Aleistanne illative Aliinne Aleihinne adessive Alillanne Aleillanne ablative Aliltanne Aleiltanne allative Alillenne Aleillenne essive Alinanne Aleinanne translative Aliksenne Aleiksenne abessive Alittanne Aleittanne instructive — — comitative — Aleinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative Alinsa Alinsa accusative nom. Alinsa Alinsa gen. Alinsa genitive Alinsa Aliensa partitive Aliaan Aliansa Alejaan Alejansa inessive Alissaan Alissansa Aleissaan Aleissansa elative Alistaan Alistansa Aleistaan Aleistansa illative Aliinsa Aleihinsa adessive Alillaan Alillansa Aleillaan Aleillansa ablative Aliltaan Aliltansa Aleiltaan Aleiltansa allative Alilleen Alillensa Aleilleen Aleillensa essive Alinaan Alinansa Aleinaan Aleinansa translative Alikseen Aliksensa Aleikseen Aleiksensa abessive Alittaan Alittansa Aleittaan Aleittansa instructive — — comitative — Aleineen Aleinensa

Statistics

• Ali is the 250^th most common male given name in Finland, belonging to 2,008 male individuals (and as a middle name to 1,743 more), and also belongs as a middle name to 813 female individuals, according to August 2025 data from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency of Finland.

German

Etymology

Eventually from Arabic عَلِيّ (ʕaliyy).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈaːli/

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

Proper noun

Ali m (proper noun, strong, genitive Alis)

1. Ali (name)

Noun

Ali m (strong, genitive Alis, plural Alis)

1. (informal, usually derogatory) a Muslim, especially Turkish, immigrant (or descendant of immigrants)

Usage notes

• The use of Ali as a placeholder name for an average Muslim immigrant is not necessarily pejorative, but the use as a common noun (as in irgendein Ali, die Alis) usually is.

See also

• Aische (female equivalent)

Hausa

Etymology

Borrowed from Arabic عَلِيّ (ʕaliyy).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʔà.lí/
  • (Standard Kano Hausa) IPA^(key): [ʔà.lɪ́]

Proper noun

Àli m

1. Ali (son-in-law of Muhammad)
2. a male given name, equivalent to English Ali

Indonesian

Etymology

From Arabic عَلِيّ (ʕaliyy, literally “high, exalted”), from the Arabic root ع ل ي (ʕ l y)

Pronunciation

• (Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /ˈali/ [ˈa.li]
• Rhymes: -ali
• Syllabification: A‧li

Proper noun

Ali

1. a male given name from Arabic, equivalent to English Ali
2. Ali ibn Abi Talib (son-in-law of Muhammad)

Latin

Etymology

Borrowed from Arabic عَلِيّ (ʕaliyy).

Proper noun

Alī m sg (genitive Alis or Alī); indeclinable, variously declined, third declension

1. (post-classical) Ali (son-in-law of Muhammad)
2. (post-classical) a male given name, equivalent to English Ali

Declension

Third-declension noun (i-stem, accusative singular in -im, ablative singular in -ī) or indeclinable noun, singular only.

	singular
nominative	Alī
genitive	Alis Alī
dative	Alī
accusative	Alim Alī
ablative	Alī
vocative	Alī

For genitive and accusative see e.g. D. Anton Friedrich Büsching, Magazin für die neue Historie und Geographie, vol. 17 (at Google Books, pages 14, 57 and 62)

Maranao

Alternative forms

• Cali

Etymology

Borrowed from Arabic عَلِيّ (ʕaliyy, literally “high, exalted”)

Proper noun

Ali

1. a male given name from Arabic
2. a surname from Arabic

Polish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈa.li/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ali
• Syllabification: A‧li
• Homophone: ali

Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Proper noun

Ali m pers

1. (rare) a male given name, equivalent to English Ali

Declension

Declension of Ali

	singular	plural
nominative	Ali	Alowie
genitive	Alego	Alich
dative	Alemu	Alim
accusative	Alego	Alich
instrumental	Alim	Alimi
locative	Alim	Alich
vocative	Ali	Alowie

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Proper noun

Ali f

1. genitive/dative/locative singular of Ala

Further reading

• “Ali”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎^[6] (in Polish)

Portuguese

Etymology

From Old Galician-Portuguese Ali, from Arabic عَلِيّ (ʕaliyy).

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /aˈli/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ɐˈli/

Proper noun

Ali m

1. a male given name from Arabic, equivalent to English Ali

Swahili

Etymology

Borrowed from Arabic عَلِيّ (ʕaliyy).

Pronunciation

• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

Proper noun

Ali

1. a male given name from Arabic

Tausug

Etymology

Borrowed from Arabic عَلِيّ (ʕaliyy, literally “high, exalted”).

Pronunciation

• (Sinūgan Parianun) IPA^(key): /ʔali/ [ʔɑˈli]
• Rhymes: -i
• Syllabification: A‧li

Proper noun

Ali (Sulat Sūg spelling اَلِ)

1. a male given name from Arabic

Thao

Proper noun

Ali

1. a female given name

References

• Center for aboriginal studies (2014), “Ali”, in 原住民族人名譜 [Dictionary of Indigenous Names in Taiwan]‎^[7] (in Chinese), Taipei: Council of Indigenous Peoples

Turkish

Etymology

Inherited from Ottoman Turkish علی (ʿAlī), from Arabic عَلِيّ (ʕaliyy).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /aˈli/
• Rhymes: -i

Proper noun

Ali

1. a male given name from Arabic
2. ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib, the son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through Ali's marriage to the Islamic prophet's daughter, Fāṭimah al-Zahrāʾ, recognized as the Islamic prophet's fourth rightly-guided successor in most of Sunni Islam and as the Islamic prophet's first legitimate successor in Shia Islam. Usually used with honorary title (Hazreti or Hz.) before the name, Hz. Ali