Find out how popular the first name Allison has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Allison by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Allison is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Allison being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 2,641 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Allison.

The history of the first name Allison

The name Allison originates from the Scottish Gaelic name Ailís, which was derived from the Norman French form of the Germanic name Adeliz or Adelina. The name Adeliz is believed to have been a combination of the Germanic elements "adal," meaning "noble," and "lind," meaning "serpent" or "snake."

In the 12th century, the name Ailís was brought to Scotland by Norman settlers, and it became a popular name among the Scottish nobility. Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, including Alison, Allyson, and Allison.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Allison dates back to the 13th century, when it appeared in the chronicles of the Scottish town of Ayr. In these records, a woman named Alicia de Moreville was mentioned as the wife of a local nobleman.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Allison. One of the earliest was Alison Neville (c. 1394-1476), an English noblewoman who served as the Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth Woodville during the reign of Edward IV.

Another notable Allison was Alison Weir (1951-), an English historian and author, best known for her biographies of British royalty, including "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" and "The Life of Elizabeth I."

In the world of literature, Allison Lurie (1926-2020) was an American novelist and academic who won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1985 for her novel "Foreign Affairs."

In the realm of science, Allison Hargreaves (1962-1995) was a British mountain climber and the first woman to conquer Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen.

The name Allison has also been associated with notable figures in the world of entertainment, such as Allison Janney (1959-), an American actress known for her roles in films like "The Help" and television shows like "The West Wing," for which she won multiple Emmy Awards.

While these are just a few examples, the name Allison has been borne by countless individuals throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human endeavor.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Allison was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Allison, please contact us.

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