Allison
Allison is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Noble, light, or son of Alice.
Origin and history
Allison is derived from the Old French name Alis, a diminutive of Alice, which traces back to the Germanic name Adalheidis. Historically used as a surname meaning 'son of Alice', it evolved into a given name used for both females and males. Though predominantly female in contemporary U.S. usage, it maintains a long-standing historical record as a masculine name.
Popularity in the United States
3,825 babies in the United States have been named Allison since 1880. It ranks #2064 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1895.
States where it is most popular
- TX (20.5 %)
- PA (16.7 %)
- NY (15.1 %)
- CA (7.1 %)
- NC (6.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 70 |
| 1890-1900 | 80 |
| 1900-1910 | 88 |
| 1910-1920 | 431 |
| 1920-1930 | 610 |
| 1930-1940 | 423 |
| 1940-1950 | 384 |
| 1950-1960 | 383 |
| 1960-1970 | 403 |
| 1970-1980 | 252 |
| 1980-1990 | 315 |
| 1990-2000 | 147 |
| 2000-2010 | 131 |
| 2010-2019 | 76 |
| 2020-2029 | 32 |
Famous people named Allison
- Allison White: Politician, Lawyer
Nicknames
Al, Allie, Ally
Fun facts
- Allison originated as a patronymic surname in medieval Britain meaning 'child of Alice'.
- The name has recorded masculine usage in official U.S. birth statistics dating back to the late 19th century.