Alison
From Middle English Alisoun, from Old French Alison, brought to England by the Normans (from Anglo-Norman Alison, from Norman Alison), diminutive of Aliz, equivalent to…
Every Alison since 1905 — 117,481 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Alison
Alison is moderately common for girls in the United States, ranked #476 in 2025 with 644 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1905, 117,481 American babies have been named Alison. Its peak came in 1986, when 3,000 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1980s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Alison stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Alison year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 644 | #476 | 5 | #12,100 |
| 2024 | 674 | #465 | — | — |
| 2023 | 654 | #471 | — | — |
| 2022 | 692 | #458 | 6 | #10,929 |
| 2021 | 660 | #473 | — | — |
| 2020 | 699 | #440 | — | — |
| 2019 | 758 | #413 | — | — |
| 2018 | 770 | #400 | — | — |
| 2017 | 816 | #383 | — | — |
| 2016 | 974 | #343 | — | — |
| 2015 | 967 | #339 | — | — |
| 2014 | 1,118 | #292 | — | — |
| 2013 | 1,072 | #298 | 6 | #10,790 |
| 2012 | 1,184 | #275 | 5 | #12,356 |
| 2011 | 1,272 | #253 | 6 | #10,864 |
| 2010 | 1,219 | #269 | — | — |
| 2009 | 1,448 | #228 | 9 | #8,330 |
| 2008 | 1,247 | #275 | 7 | #9,903 |
| 2007 | 1,170 | #290 | 10 | #7,617 |
| 2006 | 1,217 | #272 | 5 | #12,127 |
| 2005 | 1,256 | #260 | — | — |
| 2004 | 1,433 | #229 | 5 | #11,420 |
| 2003 | 1,413 | #233 | 6 | #9,622 |
| 2002 | 1,361 | #232 | — | — |
| 2001 | 1,360 | #233 | — | — |
| 2000 | 1,381 | #231 | 5 | #10,417 |
| 1995 | 1,952 | #162 | — | — |
| 1990 | 2,363 | #132 | 13 | #4,176 |
| 1985 | 2,829 | #97 | 8 | #4,714 |
| 1980 | 2,980 | #101 | 14 | #3,098 |
| 1975 | 2,267 | #127 | 16 | #2,543 |
| 1970 | 1,763 | #187 | 8 | #3,530 |
| 1965 | 1,461 | #221 | — | — |
| 1960 | 1,267 | #246 | — | — |
| 1955 | 545 | #378 | — | — |
| 1950 | 353 | #428 | 7 | #3,027 |
| 1945 | 120 | #678 | 5 | #3,342 |
| 1940 | 42 | #1,114 | — | — |
| 1935 | 35 | #1,199 | — | — |
| 1930 | 24 | #1,609 | — | — |
| 1925 | 14 | #2,491 | 7 | #3,422 |
| 1920 | 10 | #3,099 | 7 | #3,498 |
| 1915 | 16 | #1,964 | — | — |
| 1910 | 5 | #2,412 | — | — |
| 1905 | 7 | #1,544 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Alison
- Alison Steadman Actor · b. 1946
- Alison Moyet Singer · b. 1961
- Alison Doody Actor · b. 1966
- Alison Brie Actor · b. 1982
- Alison Lurie Writer · b. 1926
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Alison mean?
From Middle English Alisoun, from Old French Alison, brought to England by the Normans (from Anglo-Norman Alison, from Norman Alison), diminutive of Aliz, equivalent to English Alice, from Old High German Adalhaid (“of noble…
How popular is the name Alison in 2025?
Alison ranked #476 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 644 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Alison?
117,481 babies have been named Alison in the United States since 1905, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Alison most popular?
Alison peaked in 1986, when 3,000 newborns received the name.
Is Alison a boy or girl name?
Alison is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 99% of babies with the name.
Is the name Alison rising or falling?
Alison is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Alison?
Well-known people named Alison include Alison Steadman (actor), Alison Moyet (singer), Alison Doody (actor).