Ali (Arabic: علي, ʿAlī) is a male Arabic name, derived from the Arabic root ʿ-L-Y which literally means "high". It is a common name in Arabic countries and the rest of the Muslim world.
Islamic traditional use of the name goes back to Ali ibn Abu Talib, the Islamic leader and cousin of Muhammad, but the name is identical in form and meaning to the Hebrew: עֵלִי , Eli, which goes back to the Eli in the Books of Samuel.
The name Ali can arise away from Islam; among English-speakers as short for male and female names starting with "Al-", or the Old Norse man's name Áli.
[edit] Given name
- Ali Akdemir, Turkish scientist
- al-'Ali (The Sublimely Exalted), one of the 99 names of Allah
- Ali al-Abdallah, Syrian writer and human rights activist
- Ali Annabi, Tunisian fencer
- Ali Babacan, Turkish politician
- Ali Bacher, South African cricket batsman & administrator
- Ali Kemal Bey, Turkish journalist, newspaper editor and poet
- Ali Bozer, Turkish politician
- Ali Çetinkaya, Turkish Army officer
- Ali Daei (born 1969), Iranian footballer
- Ali al-Dandachi, Syrian scout leader
- Ali Demić, Bosnian basketball player
- Ali Dizaei (born 1962), Anglo-Iranian police officer and criminal
- Ali Džabič (1853-1918), Bosnian mufti
- Ali Eraslan, Turkish actor
- Ali Erdemir, Turkish scientist
- Ali Fadel, Iraqi politician
- Ali Güneş, Turkish footballer
- Ali Hassan al-Majid (1941-2010), Iraqi politician and mass murderer
- 'Ali ibn Husayn (Zayn al-Abidin), fourth infallible imam in Shi'a thought, grandson of Ali ibn Abi Talib
- Ali Jarbawi, Palestinian politician
- Ali Khademhosseini (born 1975), Iranian-Canadian bioengineer
- Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran
- Ali Kordan (1958-2009), Iranian politician
- Ali ibn Abbas al-Majusi, 11th century physician
- Ali Marwi, Kuwaiti footballer
- 'Ali ibn Muhammad (al-Hadi), tenth infallible imam in Twelver Shi'a thought only
- 'Ali ibn Musa (ar-Reza), eighth infallible imam in Twelver Shi'a thought only
- Ali Nuhić, German-born Bosnian footballer
- Ali Ölmez, Turkish footballer
- Ali Omari, Afghan footballer
- Ali Özgentürk, Turkish film director
- Ali Qanso, Lebanese politician
- Ali ibn Ridwan, 11th century astrologer
- Ali Sabancı, Turkish businessman
- Ali Saleem, Pakistani television host
- Ali Salem, Egyptian playwright
- Ali ibn Sahl Rabban al-Tabari
- Ali Shayegan (1903-1981), Iranian politician
- 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic Prophet
- Ali Tandoğan, Turkish footballer
- Ali Turan, Turkish footballer
- Ali Türkan, Turkish footballer
- Ali Williams (born 1981), New Zealand rugby union player
- Ali Nihat Yazıcı, Turkish Chess official
- Ali I of Yejju (died 1788), Ethiopian leader
- Ali II of Yejju (c. 1819–c. 1866), Ethiopian leader
- Lotf Ali Khan, last Shah of Persia
- Ali (rapper), aka Ali Jones, an American rapper, also part of St. Lunatics
- Ali (French rapper), a French solo rapper and previously part of Lunatic
[edit] Females
[edit] Surname
- Aamir Ali, Indian television actor
- Abdulaziz Ali, Qatari footballer
- Ahmed Ali, Pakistani writer
- Ali (born 1962), an Indian film actor who works in Tollywood
- Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Dutch feminist, writer, and politician
- Begum Nawazish Ali, Pakistani television host
- Filiz Ali, Turkish pianist
- Laila Ali, female boxer and daughter of Muhammad Ali
- Meral Yıldız Ali, Romanian-Turkish female table tennis player
- Muhammad Ali (born 1942), American boxer
- Rashied Ali (1935-2009), American drummer
- Rushanara Ali, British politician
- Sabahattin Ali, Turkish novelist
- Safiye Ali, Turkish physician
- Saleem Ali, Pakistani American scholar
- Somy Ali, Bollywood actress
- Sonni Ali, first king of the West African Songhai empire
- Tatyana Ali, American actress and singer
[edit] Derived names
[edit] Female
[edit] Fictional characters
- Ali Baba, character described in the adventure tale of "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves"
- Ali G, satirical character played by Sacha Baron Cohen
- Ali Al-Saachez, character in the anime Gundam 00, one of the main antagonists of the show
- Steve, character described as Ali Bongo in the British comedy show Little Britain.
[edit] See also