Ari
Of the first sense, derives directly from Hebrew: אֲרִי (arí, “lion”); compare Yiddish: לייב (leyb, “Leib”), English: Leo, Leon, French: Léo, Léon, Czech: Lev, Polish…
Every Ari since 1958 — 28,254 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Ari
Ari is moderately common for boys in the United States, ranked #393 in 2025 with 808 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1958, 28,254 American babies have been named Ari — about 73% boys and 27% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2022, when 1,752 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Ari stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Ari year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 476 | #614 | 808 | #393 |
| 2024 | 570 | #535 | 807 | #399 |
| 2023 | 666 | #462 | 974 | #342 |
| 2022 | 722 | #434 | 1,030 | #328 |
| 2021 | 658 | #476 | 957 | #343 |
| 2020 | 635 | #482 | 787 | #392 |
| 2019 | 505 | #600 | 860 | #371 |
| 2018 | 397 | #719 | 870 | #374 |
| 2017 | 341 | #803 | 802 | #398 |
| 2016 | 278 | #967 | 751 | #418 |
| 2015 | 268 | #1,005 | 771 | #402 |
| 2014 | 227 | #1,118 | 689 | #440 |
| 2013 | 228 | #1,082 | 704 | #420 |
| 2012 | 178 | #1,323 | 637 | #435 |
| 2011 | 135 | #1,600 | 510 | #508 |
| 2010 | 134 | #1,613 | 517 | #500 |
| 2009 | 130 | #1,705 | 516 | #525 |
| 2008 | 107 | #1,968 | 495 | #536 |
| 2007 | 103 | #1,988 | 463 | #557 |
| 2006 | 78 | #2,397 | 375 | #630 |
| 2005 | 64 | #2,639 | 288 | #710 |
| 2004 | 72 | #2,372 | 297 | #678 |
| 2003 | 75 | #2,263 | 298 | #666 |
| 2002 | 57 | #2,677 | 249 | #711 |
| 2001 | 50 | #2,884 | 248 | #711 |
| 2000 | 25 | #4,665 | 207 | #789 |
| 1995 | 18 | #5,239 | 166 | #834 |
| 1990 | 22 | #4,389 | 141 | #859 |
| 1985 | 14 | #5,096 | 126 | #793 |
| 1980 | 14 | #4,989 | 147 | #720 |
| 1975 | 12 | #4,878 | 105 | #811 |
| 1970 | 6 | #7,118 | 123 | #742 |
| 1965 | — | — | 46 | #1,095 |
| 1960 | — | — | 32 | #1,401 |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
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| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Ari
- Ari Thorgilsson Philosopher · 1067–1148
- Ari Vatanen Racing driver · b. 1952
- Ari Behn Writer · 1972–2019
- Ari Folman Film director · b. 1962
- Ari Aster Film director · b. 1986
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ari mean?
Of the first sense, derives directly from Hebrew: אֲרִי (arí, “lion”); compare Yiddish: לייב (leyb, “Leib”), English: Leo, Leon, French: Léo, Léon, Czech: Lev, Polish: Lew, Russian: Лев (Lev), and Ukrainian: Лев (Lev).
How popular is the name Ari in 2025?
Ari ranked #393 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 808 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Ari?
28,254 babies have been named Ari in the United States since 1958, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Ari most popular?
Ari peaked in 2022, when 1,752 newborns received the name.
Is Ari a boy or girl name?
Ari is used for both: about 27% of babies named Ari have been girls and 73% boys.
Is the name Ari rising or falling?
Ari is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Ari?
Well-known people named Ari include Ari Thorgilsson (philosopher), Ari Vatanen (racing driver), Ari Behn (writer).