Boy · #5,355 in 2026

Ayatollah

Ayatollah is a title for high-ranking Twelver Shia clergy. It came into widespread usage in the 20th century. Those who hold this title must be men and specialists in Islamic sciences such as jurisprudence (fiqh) and principles (usul), often teaching in seminaries. The next lower rank among these clergy is Hojjatoleslam.

Current Rank
#5,355
Peak Rank
#5,355 (1979)
Total Babies
6
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1979
First Year
1979
Last Year
1979
Peak Year
#5355
Peak Rank
6
Total Count
1
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Ayatollah

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Ayatollah is a title for high-ranking Twelver Shia clergy. It came into widespread usage in the 20th century. Those who hold this title must be men and specialists in Islamic sciences such as jurisprudence (fiqh) and principles (usul), often teaching in seminaries. The next lower rank among these clergy is Hojjatoleslam.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
The title is originally derived from the Arabic word Āyah post-modified with the word Allah , making ʾāyatu llāh ( Arabic : آية الله ). The combination has been translated to English as 'Sign of God', 'Divine Sign' or 'Reflection of God'. It is a frequently used term in the Quran , but its usage in this context is presumably a particular reference to the verse 41:53 "We shall show them Our signs on the horizons and in their own selves", while it has been also used to refer to The Twelve Imams by Shias. Variants used are ʾāyatu llāhi fī l-ʾanʿām ( Arabic : آية الله في الأنعام , lit. ' Sign of G

The Story of Ayatollah

Ayatollah first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1979, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1979, when 6 Ayatollahs were born — ranking #5,355 that year. As of 2026, Ayatollah ranks #5,355 for baby boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 6 Ayatollahs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Ayatollah

Phonetically similar names — useful when Ayatollah is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Matola
  • Matala
  • Motola
  • Mottola
  • Cotilla
  • Satilla
  • Nitella
  • Iola
  • Ayatollahs
  • Eidola
  • Nutella
  • Natoli

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Ayatollah

What does the name Ayatollah mean?
Ayatollah is a title for high-ranking Twelver Shia clergy. It came into widespread usage in the 20th century. Those who hold this title must be men and specialists in Islamic sciences such as jurisprudence (fiqh) and principles (usul), often teaching in seminaries. The next lower rank among these clergy is Hojjatoleslam.
How popular is Ayatollah in 2026?
In 2026, Ayatollah ranks #5,355 among boys' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Ayatollah most popular?
Ayatollah reached its peak popularity in 1979, ranking #5,355 that year with 6 babies given the name.
Is Ayatollah a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Ayatollah is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Ayatollah?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Ayatollah include Regi, Roozbeh, Ashanta. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Regi
Peak #5355
👦
Roozbeh
Peak #5355
👦
Ashanta
Peak #5355
👦
Chelton
Peak #5355
👦
Chih
Peak #5355
👦
Dantoni
Peak #5355
👦
Eiad
Peak #5355
👦
Hommy
Peak #5355

About the name Ayatollah

Ayatollah is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1979 and has accumulated 6 births in the dataset. Ayatollah's peak popularity came in 1979 when it ranked #5,355. Use the chart and map above to compare Ayatollah's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.