Alison
A-lih-suhn
Alison is a medieval French diminutive of Alice, itself from the Old High German Adalheidis, combining adal (“noble”) and heid (“kind, sort, type”). The literal reading of the full root is “nobility of character.”
The name entered England through the Normans and became one of the most common feminine names of the medieval period. It appears in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales as the name of the Wife of Bath, one of literature’s earliest strong female characters.
Alison peaked at No. 96 in 1986 with 2,975 births. In 2024 it ranks No. 465 with 673 births, a classic that has held steady through the decades.
What the name Alison means
Notable bearers include Irish singer Alison Moyet, British journalist Alison Pearson, and American actress Alison Brie. The name has maintained a strong presence in English-speaking media.
Three syllables — AL-ih-sun — with stress on the first beat. The name feels warm and approachable, never pretentious, with a rhythm that works naturally in British and American accents.
Alison appeals to parents who want a name with deep medieval roots that has never felt dated — a genuine classic that doesn’t announce its decade of birth.
Variants include Allison (the double-l American spelling), Alyson, and the older Alicen. The French Alison is the etymological source of all these forms.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Alison
Alison - similar names
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