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The short answer
Alison is a feminine name used in English and French. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Norman French diminutive of Aalis (see Alice). It was common in England, Scotland and France in the Middle Ages, and was later revived in England in the 20th century via Scotland." It ranked #476 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, norman French diminutive of Aalis (see Alice). It was common in England, Scotland and France in the Middle Ages, and was later revived in England in the 20th century via Scotland. The entry lists its usage as English, French.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Alison ranked #476 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #476 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Alison in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Alison mean?
Behind the Name does not give Alison a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: norman French diminutive of Aalis.
Is Alison a popular name?
Alison ranked #476 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Alison a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Alison appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Alison (1) — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
