Sublime, high, or noble
Alai is a name with multiple cultural roots, most notably appearing in Arabic as a variant of Ala, meaning 'sublime' or 'high.' It is also found in Basque contexts and as a modern short form in various cultures, often chosen for its melodic, vowel-heavy sound.
Less common today
Alai isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #10,104 in 2023.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
Tibetan-born Chinese author and Mao Dun Literature Prize winner
