The nameAllison
Allison is a girl's name of Germanic origin, a medieval diminutive of Alice. It reached the American top 30 in the 2000s.
- Girl's name
- Norman French
Meaning
Allison comes from Alison, a medieval pet form of Alice, from the Germanic Adalheidis, "of noble kind".
Origin
Norman French, then Scottish. Alison was very common in medieval England and Scotland.
History
Chaucer gives the name to a lively young wife in The Miller's Tale. Allison became fashionable in the United States in the late 20th century and reached the top 30.
Famous people named Allison
- Allison Janney, actress
- Allison Williams, actress
- Allyson Felix, sprinter (Allyson)
Popularity of the name Allison
Allison in the United States
Allison was most popular in the United States in the 1990s, with 74,578 births over the decade, 23% of all recorded babies named Allison. Its rise began around 1958, and it peaked in 1994. Half of all babies named Allison in the United States were born before 1995. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 2,860 births a year on average, against 4,267 in the five years before.
Allison in Ireland
Allison was most popular in Ireland in the 1970s, with 209 births over the decade, 36% of all recorded babies named Allison. Half of all babies named Allison in Ireland were born before 1979, so it is mostly a parents' generation name.
Allison in France
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Allison
Names from the same generation as Allison, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Allison? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Allison with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Allison side by side with the name of your choice.
Allison in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Allison mean?
Allison comes from Alison, a medieval pet form of Alice, from the Germanic Adalheidis, "of noble kind".
What is the origin of the name Allison?
Norman French, then Scottish. Alison was very common in medieval England and Scotland.
Is Allison a girl's or a boy's name?
Allison is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Allison?
In 2024, Allison was the 99th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 2,622 births.
What are the variants of the name Allison?
Variants and related names of Allison include Alice and Alison.
What are good sibling names for Allison?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Savannah, Madeline, Melanie and Natalie for a sister, Connor, Blake, Chase and Joel for a brother.
Who are famous people named Allison?
Allison Janney, actress; Allison Williams, actress; Allyson Felix, sprinter (Allyson).