Alawi (name)

Alawi (Arabic:علوي‎) means "follower of Ali", and is a common surname (and sometimes as a given name) in the Muslim world. In Arab countries occupied by the British Empire, the name is transliterated as "Alawi". In Arab countries that were occupied by the French Third Republic, the name is transliterated as "Alaoui". In South Asia it is usually transliterated as "Alavi" or "Alvi" (see Alavi).