Alison is a unisex

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

, primarily a feminine name in English-speaking countries. It was originally a

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...

French

nickname A nickname, in some circumstances also known as a sobriquet, or informally a "moniker", is an informal substitute for the proper name of a person, place, or thing, used to express affection, playfulness, contempt, or a particular character trait ...

for ''Alis / Alys'', an old form of

Alice Alice may refer to: * Alice (name), most often a feminine given name, but also used as a surname Literature * Alice (''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland''), a character in books by Lewis Carroll * ''Alice'' series, children's and teen books by ...

Albert Dauzat, ''Noms et prénoms de France'', Librairie Larousse 1980, édition revue et commentée par Marie-Thérèse Morlet. p. 6a. derived with the suffix ''-on'' or ''-son'' sometimes used in the former French nicknames. The

Middle English Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman Conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English pe ...

form was ''Alisoun''. The variant spelling Allison is the most common form in the United States.Katie Martin-Doyle, ''The Treasury of Baby Names'', Worth Press, Cambridge 2005. . Other variations include Allisan, Alisson, Allisson, Allyson, Allysson, Alyson, Alysson, Alicen and Alycen, with nicknames Allie, Alley, Alie, Ali, Ally, Aly, Al, Aley and Alli. Allison also has separate, disputed roots as a

family name In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

. Alison, variant form Alizon, is also a French surname.

Popularity

The name is first recorded in

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

in the 12th century. It was popular until the early 19th century and, spelled Allison, was the 45th most common name given to baby girls in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

in 2005 (Allyson was #253; Alison, #259; Alyson, #468; Allie, #256; Ally, #656; and Alice, #414). In 1990 in the

, Allison was the 228th most popular name for women of ''all'' ages; Alison was #347, Allyson, #775; Alyson, #981; Allie, #764; Ali, #2434; and Alice, #51. Alison in any spelling did not enter the top 100 baby names in 2005 in

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

and

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

. Allison last entered the top 1000 baby names for males in the

in 1946, when it ranked #968. In the 1910s it ranked from 667 to 981 with an average of #835, and in the first decade of the 20th century, it ranked as high as #927. In

Lusophone The Portuguese-speaking world, also known as the Lusophone world () or the Lusophony (''Lusofonia''), comprises the countries and territories in which the Portuguese language is an official, administrative, cultural, or secondary language. This ...

countries like Brazil and Portugal, Alison and variant forms are also used as masculine given names.

People named Alison

Female

* Alison Armitage (born 1965), former swimmer, actress and Playboy Playmate * Alison Arngrim (born, 1962), American actress * Alison Balsom (born 1978), British trumpeter *

Alison Bechdel Alison Bechdel ( ; born September 10, 1960) is an American cartoonist. Originally known for the long-running comic strip ''Dykes to Watch Out For'', she came to critical and commercial success in 2006 with her Graphic novel, graphic memoir ''Fun ...

(born 1960), American cartoonist * Allison Baver (born 1980), American Olympic Medalist, American Actress * Alison Becker (born 1977), American actress * Alison Bergin (born 2002), Irish rower *

Allison Black Colonel Allison K. Black is an American retired military officer. She was given the nickname "Angel of Death" as an AC-130H gunship officer in the United States Air Force during the War in Afghanistan. She was the second woman to ever serve as co ...

, American military officer *

Alison Brie Alison Brie Schermerhorn (born December 29, 1982) is an American actress, writer, and producer. She earned recognition for playing Trudy Campbell in the drama series ''Mad Men'' (2007–2015), and had her Breakthrough role, breakthrough starring ...

(born 1982), American actress * Alison Burton (1921–2014), Australian tennis player * Alison Calder (born 1969), Canadian poet and literary critic * Allison Chamberlain, American infectious disease epidemiologist * Alison Chapman-Andrews (born 1942), English-Barbadian painter and artist * Alison Carroll, English gymnast, model and actress * Alison Chase (born 1946), American dance instructor * Alison H. Clarkson (born 1955), American politician * Alison Doody (born 1966), Irish actress and model * Allison Fisher, English professional pool champion * Alison Fuller, British educational researcher *

Alison Goldfrapp Alison Elizabeth Margaret Goldfrapp (born 13 May 1966) is an English musician and record producer, known as the vocalist of English electronic music duo Goldfrapp. Early life and education Alison Elizabeth Margaret Goldfrapp was born on 13 Ma ...

(born 1966), English musician and record producer * Allison Gollust, American media executive * Alison Halford (1940–2025), Welsh senior police officer and politician * Alison Hall (1910–2004), New Zealand cricket player and scorer * Alison Hammond (born 1975), English television personality * Allison Hepler, American politician *

Alison Hewson Alison Hewson (née Stewart; born 23 March 1961) is an Irish activist and businesswoman. She is married to singer and musician Paul Hewson, known as Bono, from the rock group U2. Raised in Raheny, she met her future husband at age 12 at Moun ...

(born 1961), Irish businesswoman and wife of

Bono Paul David Hewson (born 10 May 1960), known by the nickname Bono ( ), is an Irish singer-songwriter and activist. He is a founding member, the lead vocalist, and primary lyricist of the rock band U2. Bono is known for his impassioned voca ...

Alison Hinds Alison Amanda Hinds (born June 1 1970) is a British-born Bajan soca singer based in Barbados. She is often referred to as the Bajan " Queen of Soca" as a result of her impact on the genre. Biography Alison Hinds was born on 1 June 1970 in Lo ...

(born 1970), English-Barbadian Soca Musician * Allison Holker (born 1988), American dancer * Alison Horner (born 1966), British businesswoman * Alison Howie (born 1991), Scottish field hockey player * Alison Humby (born 1972), English badminton player * Allison Janney (born 1959), American actress * Alison King (born 1973), English actress * Alison Kinnaird (born 1949), Scottish musician, sculptor and teacher * Alison Kosik (born 1971), news journalist for the Cable News Network (CNN) *

Alison Krauss Alison Maria Krauss (born July 23, 1971) is an American bluegrass-country singer, fiddler and music producer. She entered the music industry at an early age, competing in local contests by the age of eight and recording for the first time at ...

(born 1971), American musician * Alison Lepin (born 2000), French artistic gymnast *

Alison Lester Alison Jean Lester (born 17 November 1952) is an Australian author and illustrator who has published over 25 children's picture books and two young adult novels — ''The Quickstand Pony'' and ''The Snow Pony''. In 2005 Lester won the Child ...

(born 1952), Australian author and illustrator * Alison Levine (born 1966), American mountain climber * Alison Levine (boccia) (born 1990), Canadian Paralympian * Alison Lohman (born 1979), American actress *

Alison Lurie Alison Stewart Lurie (September 3, 1926December 3, 2020) was an American novelist and academic. She won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her 1984 novel ''Foreign Affairs''. Although better known as a novelist, she wrote many non-fiction books ...

(1926–2020), American novelist and academic *

Allison Mack Allison Christin Mack (born July 29, 1982) is an American actress. She played Chloe Sullivan on the superhero series ''Smallville'' (2001–2011) and had a recurring role on the comedy series '' Wilfred'' (2012–2014). Mack was a member of ...

(born 1982), American actress and criminal * Alison Marr, American mathematician * Alison Marsden, American bioengineer * Alison Merrien, British indoor bowls player * Alison Mitchell, English sports broadcaster * Alison Mowbray (born 1971), British former rower *

Alison Moyet Geneviève Alison Jane Ballard (; ; born 18 June 1961), formerly known as Alf, is an English singer. Noted for her powerful bluesy contralto voice, she came to prominence as a member of the synth-pop duo Yazoo (band), Yazoo (known as Yaz in Nor ...

(born 1961), English singer and songwriter * Allison Munn (born 1974), American actress * Alison R.H. Narayan (born 1984), American chemistry professor *

Alison Oliver Alison Oliver is an Irish actress. She is known for her debut role as Frances in the BBC Three and Hulu miniseries '' Conversations with Friends'' (2022), and she was named in '' Variety''s "10 actors to watch" in 2023. Early life and educa ...

(born 1997), Irish actress * Alison Parker (1991–2015), American news reporter, murdered on television * Alison Peasgood (born 1987), British paratriathlete * Alison Penfold, Australian politician * Alison Blomfield Pickmere (1908–1971), New Zealand secretary of the interior *

Alison Pill Alison Pill (born November 27, 1985) is a Canadian actress. A former child actress, Pill began her career at age 12, appearing in numerous projects before transitioning to adult roles with a breakthrough role in the television series '' The Bo ...

(born 1985), Canadian actress * Allison Pohlman (born 1977), American collegiate basketball player and coach * Alison Quinn (born 1977), Australian Paralympic athlete * Alison Riske-Amritraj (born 1990), inactive American tennis player * Alison Redford (born 1965), Canadian lawyer and politician * Alison Robins (1920–2017), worked at Bletchley Park "Y-Service" * Allison Sansom (born 1994), Thai model * Alison Saunders (born 1961), former Director of Public Prosecutions (England and Wales) * Allison Scagliotti (born 1990), American actress *

Allison Schmitt Allison Rodgers Schmitt (born June 7, 1990) is an American competition swimmer who specializes in freestyle events. She is a four-time Olympian and a ten-time Olympic medalist. In her Olympic debut at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Sc ...

(born 1990), American competition swimmer * Alison Schumacher (born 2002), Canadian figure skater *

Alison Sealy-Smith Alison Sealy-Smith (born 1959) is a Barbadian-born Canadian actress best known for her role as Storm in various Marvel animated TV series. Early life and education Smith was born in Bridgetown, Barbados and raised in Toronto. She attended Mount ...

(born 1959), Barbadian actress * Alison Shrubsole (1925–2002), British educationist and university administrator * Alison Steadman (born 1946), English actress * Alison Stewart (born 1966), American Journalist and author * Alison Stone, (born 1972), British philosopher *

Alison Sudol Alison Sudol (born December 23, 1984) is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She is formerly known as the singer A Fine Frenzy, and for her role as Queenie Goldstein in '' Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'' (2016), as well as its s ...

(born 1984), American musician and actress *

Alison Sweeney Alison Ann Sweeney (born September 19, 1976) is an American actress, reality show host, director and author. Sweeney is best known for her portrayal of Samantha "Sami" Brady on the NBC soap opera ''Days of Our Lives'', a role she played under c ...

(born 1976), American actress * Allison Tant (born 1961), American politician * Alison Joan Tierney CBE (born 1948) British nursing theorist, nurse researcher *

Alison Van Uytvanck Alison Van Uytvanck (; born 26 March 1994) is a Belgian former professional tennis player. In August 2018, she reached her best singles ranking of world No. 37. Van Uytvanck has won five singles and two doubles WTA Tour titles and three Chall ...

(born 1994), Belgian former professional tennis player * Alison Walker (scientist), English physicist *

Alison Weir Alison Weir ( Matthews) is a British author and public historian. She primarily writes about the history of English royal women and families, in the form of biographies that explore their historical setting. She has also written numerous wor ...

(born 1951), English author and historian * Allison Williams (born 1988), American actress, comedian, and singer *

Alison Williamson Alison Jane Williamson Order of the British Empire, MBE (born 3 November 1971) is a retired British archery, archer who represented Great Britain at the Summer Olympics, Great Britain at six consecutive Olympic Games from 1992 to 2012. She won ...

(born 1971), English archer * Alison Yu (born 1984), wheelchair fencer from Hong Kong * Alison Zerafa Civelli, Maltese politician

Male

* Allison Deforest Pickett (1900–1991), Canadian entomologist * Alisson Becker (born 1992), Brazilian footballer * Allison Brooks (1917–2006), American Air Force aviator * Allison Burnett (born 1958), American screenwriter *

Alison Cerutti Alison Conte Cerutti (born 7 December 1985), known as Alison Cerutti or simply Alison, is a Brazilian beach volleyball player. He plays as a blocker. In 2011, along with Emanuel Rego he won the Swatch FIVB World Tour in Prague, Czech Republic. ...

(born 1985), Brazilian beach volleyball player *

Allison Danzig Allison "Al" Danzig (February 27, 1898 – January 27, 1987) was an American sportswriter who specialized in writing about tennis, but also covered college football, squash, many Olympic Games, and rowing. Danzig was the only American sportswri ...

(1898–1987), American sports journalist * Alison Dias Heck (born 1984), commonly known as Alison, Brazilian footballer * Alison dos Santos (born 2000), Brazilian athlete * Allison G. Catheron (1878–1950), Canadian-born American politician * Alison Lopes Ferreira (born 1993), commonly known as Alison, Brazilian former footballer * Allison Blakely (born 1940), American academic historian * Alison Felipe dos Santos Natividade (born 1998), commonly known as Alison, Brazilian footballer * Alison Henrique Mira (born 1995), commonly known as Alison, Brazilian footballer * Allison Patrício (born 1986), Brazilian footballer * Alison White (1881–1962), English cricketer * Allison Green (1911–2005), American politician * Allison Clark Bonnell (1801–1875), commonly known as A. C. Bonnell, American politician and businessman * Allison B. Humphreys (1906–1993), former justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court *

Allison Amos Pettengill Allison Amos Pettengill (November 13, 1808 – January 17, 1882) was an American politician and newspaper editor. Pettengill, son of the Rev. Amos Pettengill, was born in Champlain, New York, Champlain, Clinton County, New York, Clinton County, N. ...

(1808–1882), American politician and newspaper editor * Allison Tatham-Warter (1917–1992), commonly known as Digby Tatham-Warter, British Army officer * Allison Dysart (1880–1962), Canadian politician, lawyer and judge * Allison Madueke (born 1944), retired Nigerian naval officer * W. B. Allison Davis (1902–1983), American educator, anthropologist, writer, researcher, and scholar * Allison DeLong (1940–2014), Canadian politician

Fictional

* Allison Argent, a character in the TV Series ''

Teen Wolf ''Teen Wolf'' is a 1985 American coming-of-age comedy film directed by Rod Daniel and written by Jeph Loeb and Matthew Weisman. Michael J. Fox stars as the title character, a high school student whose ordinary life is changed when he discover ...

'' *

Alison DiLaurentis Alison Lauren DiLaurentis is a fictional character in the ''Pretty Little Liars'' book series, its television adaptation, and the spin-off series '' Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists''. The character was created by American author Sara Sh ...

, a character in the ''

Pretty Little Liars ''Pretty Little Liars'' is an American Mystery fiction, mystery teen drama television series created by I. Marlene King, which aired on Freeform (TV channel), Freeform from June 8, 2010 to June 27, 2017, based on the novel series Pretty Little L ...

'' book series, as well as its eponymous TV adaption. * Allison Hargreeves, main character in the comic book/Netflix series ''

The Umbrella Academy ''The Umbrella Academy'' is an Absurdist fiction, absurdist Superhero fiction, superhero comic book series created by writer Gerard Way and artist Gabriel Bá. It follows a dysfunctional family of adopted superhero siblings with bizarre powers a ...

'' *Allison Ryan, a character played by

Nicole Eggert Nicole Elizabeth Eggert (born January 13, 1972) is an American actress. Her notable roles include Jamie Powell on the situation comedy ''Charles in Charge'' and Summer Quinn on the television series ''Baywatch''. She guest-starred in ''The Super ...

in the 2008 movie ''Loaded''

Popularity

People named Alison

Female

Male

Fictional

See also

References

External links