What does Ali mean?
Ali means “exalted,” “noble” or “sublime” in Arabic.
What does Amir mean?
Amir is an Arabic name meaning “prince,” “ruler” or “commander.”
Ali vs Amir
Which is more popular?
Amir is more popular than Ali today: about 3,297 US babies were given the name Amir in 2025, compared with 1,116 named Ali.
| Ali | Amir | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Exalted, noble | Prince, commander |
| Origin | Arabic | Arabic |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | AH-lee | ah-MEER |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1914 | 1954 |
| Peak year | 2022 (1,124) | 2024 (3,640) |
| In 2025 | 1,116 | 3,297 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ali
Amir
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ali | Amir |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 6,347 | 20,129 |
| 2010s | 9,865 | 20,481 |
| 2000s | 7,735 | 8,869 |
| 1990s | 5,140 | 3,615 |
| 1980s | 2,846 | 1,843 |
| 1970s | 1,733 | 655 |
| 1960s | 408 | 144 |
| 1950s | 166 | 11 |
| 1940s | 65 | 0 |
| 1930s | 50 | 0 |
| 1920s | 23 | 0 |
| 1910s | 5 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ali or Amir more popular?
Amir is more popular than Ali today: about 3,297 US babies were given the name Amir in 2025, compared with 1,116 named Ali.
What is the difference between Ali and Amir?
Ali means Exalted, noble (Arabic origin), while Amir means Prince, commander (Arabic origin).
Which name is older, Ali or Amir?
In US records, Ali first appears in 1914 and Amir in 1954, so Ali has the longer recorded history.