How to say it
AL · i · son
ˈæl.ɪ.sən
Feminine
Alison
Noble
What it means
A Norman and Scottish diminutive of Alice, from the Germanic adal, 'noble.'
Alison began as a Norman pet form of Alice, which comes from the Germanic adal, 'noble.' It took deep root in Scotland and became a steady classic in its own right. The single-l spelling is the older one, with Allison the bigger American variant. Friendly and well-worn, it shortens to Ali or Allie. Said AL-ih-son.
How to spell Alison
The standard spelling is Alison. Common variants include Allison, Alyson, Allyson, but Alison is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #96 in 1986, currently #476 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Ali, Allie.
- Spelling
The older spelling of Allison; a pet form of Alice.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Alison Krauss American bluegrass and country singer and multiple Grammy winner
- Alison Brie American actress known for Community and Mad Men
- Alison Bechdel American cartoonist and author of the graphic memoir Fun Home
Spelling variants
- Allison
- Alyson
- Allyson
Names with the same feeling
See Alison from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Alison mean?
- A Norman and Scottish diminutive of Alice, from the Germanic adal, 'noble.'
- What does Alison mean in Scottish?
- In Scottish, Alison means "Noble." Alison began as a Norman pet form of Alice, which comes from the Germanic adal, 'noble.' It took deep root in Scotland and became a steady classic in its own right. The single-l spelling is the older one, with Allison the bigger American variant. Friendly and well-worn, it shortens to Ali or Allie. Said AL-ih-son.
- Is Alison short for Alice?
- Yes. Alison is a short form of Alice, and it carries the same meaning, "Noble." These days many parents use Alison as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Alison?
- Alison is pronounced ˈæl.ɪ.sən. Say it as AL-i-son, with the stress on the "al" syllable.
- How do you spell Alison?
- The standard spelling is Alison. Common spelling variants include Allison, Alyson, Allyson.
- Is Alison a boy or girl name?
- Alison is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Alison?
- Alison ranked #476 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.