Question

What was Muhammad Ali’s birth name?

Answer 1

Muhammad Ali's birth name was Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. He changed his name after converting to Islam in 1964 and rejecting his "slave name" given to his ancestors by white slave owners. He chose the name Muhammad Ali, with Muhammad being a reference to the prophet of Islam and Ali being a name with great significance in Islamic history, especially among Shiites.

Answer 2

Muhammad Ali's birth name was Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. He was born on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. He changed his name to Muhammad Ali in 1964 after joining the Nation of Islam.