Alison
Alison is a girl's name of French origin.
Meaning
Noble type or son of Alice.
Origin and history
Alison originated as a Medieval French diminutive of Alice, which traces back to Germanic roots meaning noble or noble type. It was introduced to England after the Norman Conquest and later revived in the 20th century. In the United States, it has been a well-established feminine classic with steady usage.
Popularity in the United States
116,886 babies in the United States have been named Alison since 1880. It ranks #331 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #452.
States where it is most popular
- CA (12.1 %)
- NY (10.3 %)
- TX (5.4 %)
- PA (5.1 %)
- IL (4.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 12 |
| 1910-1920 | 134 |
| 1920-1930 | 198 |
| 1930-1940 | 367 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,450 |
| 1950-1960 | 6,216 |
| 1960-1970 | 12,233 |
| 1970-1980 | 22,070 |
| 1980-1990 | 27,018 |
| 1990-2000 | 19,729 |
| 2000-2010 | 13,286 |
| 2010-2019 | 10,150 |
| 2020-2029 | 4,023 |
Famous people named Alison
- Alison Krauss: Singer, Musician
- Alison Brie: Actress
- Alison Janney: Actress
Nicknames
Ali, Allie, Ally
Fun facts
- The name appears in medieval English literature, notably in Geoffrey Chaucer's 'The Canterbury Tales'.
- It originally functioned as a French affectionate diminutive suffix attached to the name Alice.