Alison
How to say it: AL-ih-sun · /ˈælɪsən/
Medieval French diminutive of Alice, from Old High German 'Adalheidis' meaning 'noble kind' or 'of noble birth'.
Alison was the 65th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 644 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1980s, its births are down about 48% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #88 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #65 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 644 |
| Share of births | 1 in 779 |
| Peak decade | 1980s |
| Change over 10 years | −48% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #88 |
| In France, 2025 | #540 among girls’ names, 20 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Once at its strongest in the 1980s, Alison now sits well below that high. More slipping is expected in the near future.
What goes with it
Soft and breathy with a calm AL ih sun rhythm, it carries quiet familiarity. Megan feels close in spirit, and Allie offers a nickname option.
Nicknames
- Ali
- Allie
- Al
Honouring a Alison in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Alison is about 1 in 33.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Dutch, English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish.
In France: #540 for girls in 2025.
Ireland: #214.
Famous people named Alison
- Alison Brie (born 1982)American actress and writer
- Alison Krauss (born 1971)American musician
- Alison Lohman (born 1979)American actress
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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