Names / Ali
Is Ali a first name or a last name?
Ali is both: a family name in some places and a given name in others. It is mostly a given name in Turkey, Iran, Tunisia and Iraq.
How to address someone called Ali
- Turkey. Ali is a given name. Hi Ali on first-name terms; formally, Mr. or Ms. goes with the family name, not with Ali.
- Iran. Ali is a given name. Hi Ali on first-name terms; formally, Mr. or Ms. goes with the family name, not with Ali.
- United States. Ali is used both ways: about 60,002 people had it as a surname in the 2010 census, and 35,455 babies born between 1950 and 2017 were given it as a first name. Look at where it sits in the name and how the person signs.
- Tunisia. Ali is a given name. Hi Ali on first-name terms; formally, Mr. or Ms. goes with the family name, not with Ali.
Not sure which part of a full name is which? Check the full name with the country where the person is based.
Ali by country
People recorded in Wikidata who carry Ali as a family name or as a given name, by country of citizenship (5,453 in total).
| Country | As family name | As given name | Family name share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | 16 | 1,870 | 1% |
| Iran | 6 | 750 | 1% |
| United States | 61 | 134 | 31% |
| Tunisia | 13 | 134 | 9% |
| Iraq | 4 | 140 | 3% |
| Egypt | 12 | 127 | 9% |
| Pakistan | 51 | 84 | 38% |
| France | 12 | 108 | 10% |
| United Kingdom | 47 | 60 | 44% |
| Algeria | 1 | 101 | 1% |
Wikidata covers notable people, so counts show how the name is used, not how many people carry it.
Ali in the United States
- As a surname: about 60,002 people in the 2010 census, rank 559 among US surnames.
- As a first name: 35,455 babies born between 1950 and 2017, 28% of them girls.
Ali as a given name: men or women?
About 2% of people with Ali as a given name in Wikidata are women, and 28% of US babies given the name. This describes the name, not any one person: a title is usually a safe guess, but the full name without a title is always polite.