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Name Lineage

    The first name Allison

    A girl’s name from English.

    Pronounced /ˈælɪsən/ 3 syllables Female Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    English origin

    From a Middle English diminutive form of Alan, Alexander or Alice + -son.

    A form of Alison.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 9 girls were named Allison, making it the 2,788th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2021, with 16 births (#1,785).

    01020 1996200020052010201520202025
    241
    babies named Allison, 1996–2025
    #2,788
    rank in 2025
    2021
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Allison with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Allison at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 2,564 girls born in the United States were named Allison, the 103rd most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1994, when 8,150 were.

    04,5009,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    322,944
    babies named Allison since 1880
    #103
    rank in 2025
    1994
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Nicknames for Allison

    Other spellings and forms

    Famous people named Allison

    44 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Allison Janney
      American actress (born 1959)
    • Allison Mack
      American former actress, born 1982
    • Allison Williams
      American actress and producer (born 1988)
    • Allison Schmitt
      American swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, world champion, world record-holder, born 1990
    • Allison Tolman
      American actress, born 1981
    • Allison Pineau
      French handball player (1989-)
    • Allison Miller
      American actress, born 1985
    • Allison Hayes
      American actress (1930–1977)
    • Allison Scagliotti
      American actress and musician, born 1990
    • Allison Beveridge
      Canadian cyclist, born 1993
    • Allison Anders
      Director, screenwriter, born 1954
    • Allison Harvard
      American model and actress, born 1988

    More English girls’ names

    All 216 names of English origin

    Questions

    What does the name Allison mean?
    From a Middle English diminutive form of Alan, Alexander or Alice + -son.
    What is the origin of the name Allison?
    From a Middle English diminutive form of Alan, Alexander or Alice + -son.
    How popular is the name Allison?
    In 2025, 9 girls born in England and Wales were named Allison, ranking 2,788th. Its peak was 2021, with 16 births.
    What are nicknames for Allison?
    Common nicknames for Allison include Al, Ali, Alie, Alli, Allie, Ally.
    Is Allison a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a girl's name: 99% of the 322,944 US babies named Allison since 1880 were girls.
    When was Allison most popular?
    1994 in the United States, when 8,150 babies were named Allison, its highest rank at 34th.
    How do you pronounce Allison?
    Allison is /ˈælɪsən/, 3 syllables.
    What name is Allison a form of?
    Allison is a form of Alison.
    What are other spellings of Allison?
    Alison, Alyson and Allyson.
    Is Allison also a surname?
    Yes. Allison is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.