Fun Facts About the Name Aly
- More than 2 thousand babies named Aly: U.S. records list 2,196 babies given the name Aly from 1880 through 2025. Even 714 boys received the name Aly - about 1 boy for every 2 girls.
What Does the Name Aly Mean?
Aly is used as a masculine name in Arabic and Muslim communities as a variant spelling of Ali (Arabic علي, ʿAlī). It comes from the Arabic root ʿ-l-y, which has the sense of being high, elevated, or exalted. The literal idea is "high" or "lofty"; the name is usually understood as "exalted" or "noble." The spelling Aly is a Latin-alphabet form of the same Arabic name, not a different Arabic word.
Independently, Aly is used in English as a feminine given name and as a short form of several names. When it represents Alison or Alicia, it goes back through Alice to the Germanic Adalheidis, formed from adal "noble" and heid "kind, sort," so its meaning is "noble." When it represents Alexandra, it goes back to Greek Alexandros, from alexein "to defend" and anēr "man," meaning "defender of men." These English uses are separate from the Arabic name, despite the same spelling.
Aly Name History & Origins
The Arabic name ʿAlī was borne by ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad and the fourth of the Rashidun caliphs. He is a central figure in Islam, especially for Shia Muslims, who regard him as the first imam. Because of his religious importance, the name spread widely in the Muslim world, including in Arabic-, Persian-, Turkish-, and South Asian communities. Aly is one of the Latin-alphabet spellings used for this name in English-speaking countries; it represents the same Arabic name as Ali, not a separate Arabic development.
The English feminine Aly developed separately, mainly as a spelling of Ally, a familiar short form of Alison, Alice, or Alexandra. Alison appears in medieval French and English records as a diminutive of Alice; Alice comes from Old French Aliz, from the Germanic Adalheidis. In modern English use, Aly appears as an independent given name and as a nickname, especially for girls. It is not historically related to the Arabic ʿAlī, though the two names can look identical in English spelling.
How Popular is the Name Aly?
Aly has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2016. Its best rank was #2,425 in 2016.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,716 | 40 | 0.0025% |
| 2024 | #3,879 | 38 | 0.0024% |
| 2023 | #3,839 | 39 | 0.0024% |
| 2022 | #2,891 | 58 | 0.0035% |
| 2021 | #3,155 | 51 | 0.0031% |
| 2020 | #3,179 | 49 | 0.0030% |
| 2019 | #2,731 | 62 | 0.0037% |
| 2018 | #3,005 | 54 | 0.0032% |
| 2017 | #2,782 | 61 | 0.0035% |
| 2016 | #2,425 | 76 | 0.0043% |
| 2015 | #2,556 | 70 | 0.0039% |
| 2014 | #2,970 | 57 | 0.0032% |
| 2013 | #2,839 | 60 | 0.0034% |
| 2012 | #2,681 | 66 | 0.0037% |
| 2011 | #2,910 | 59 | 0.0034% |
| 2010 | #3,011 | 56 | 0.0032% |
| 2009 | #3,306 | 50 | 0.0027% |
| 2008 | #2,511 | 75 | 0.0040% |
| 2007 | #3,097 | 56 | 0.0029% |
| 2006 | #2,635 | 68 | 0.0036% |
| 2005 | #2,867 | 57 | 0.0031% |
| 2004 | #4,392 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 2003 | #4,949 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2002 | #7,849 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2001 | #6,630 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2000 | #5,158 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1999 | #5,230 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1998 | #5,811 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1997 | #6,501 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1996 | #10,622 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1995 | #5,686 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1994 | #7,626 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #7,049 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1992 | #8,089 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1991 | #8,619 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1990 | #10,241 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #7,469 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1988 | #8,414 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #7,374 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #8,555 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #10,471 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1978 | #9,798 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1977 | #8,470 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,162 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2024 | #4,559 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 2023 | #5,939 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2022 | #4,307 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 2021 | #5,115 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2020 | #6,637 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2019 | #4,645 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2018 | #4,927 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2017 | #4,943 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2016 | #4,332 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2015 | #4,411 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 2014 | #4,877 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2013 | #7,048 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2012 | #4,536 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2011 | #4,988 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2010 | #5,750 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2009 | #5,341 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2008 | #4,906 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 2007 | #5,442 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2006 | #5,084 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 2005 | #4,199 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2004 | #4,797 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2003 | #3,982 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2002 | #3,557 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 2001 | #3,515 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 2000 | #2,996 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 1999 | #4,545 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1998 | #3,393 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1997 | #5,297 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #5,203 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1995 | #4,289 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1994 | #4,297 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1993 | #5,369 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1992 | #4,885 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1991 | #5,536 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #4,177 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1989 | #5,642 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #4,797 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1987 | #4,981 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1986 | #4,865 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1985 | #5,811 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #6,348 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #4,517 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #5,381 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1975 | #5,488 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1970 | #3,856 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1964 | #4,058 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1954 | #3,462 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1951 | #3,727 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Aly Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Powerful and complete. You are good intellectually and require several outlets for your energies. You are not a builder but a planner, and you want others to carry out your plans. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Aly's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Aly's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.