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.
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–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Ali, Allie.
- Spelling
The older spelling of Allison; a pet form of Alice.
Spelling variants
- Allison
- Alyson
- Allyson
Names with the same feeling
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