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Allison

♀ Girl

Pronounced AL-ih-sun /ˈæl.ɪ.sən/High

Meaning: Noble; of noble kind — medieval French diminutive of Alice, from Old High German adal (noble)High

In 30 seconds: A medieval French diminutive of Alice meaning 'noble,' Allison started as a surname before becoming a popular feminine given name in 20th-century America.
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Origin HighOld French, Old High German
MeaningNoble; of noble kind — medieval French diminutive of Alice, from Old High German adal (noble)
Peak year1994
Total births (all-time)≈ 295,039

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199419082017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Allison is a medieval English and Scottish form of Alison, itself a French diminutive of Alice. Like Alice it ultimately traces to the Old High German adal, meaning 'noble.'

Allison began as a Scottish and English surname but became popular as a first name for girls in the United States in the 20th century, entering the top 100 girls' names and remaining there.

Did you know? Allison is also a Scottish surname — the Allison family in Scotland originally descended from the given name Alice through the patronymic Alison.

Variations

AlisonAlysonAllyson

Nicknames

AllieAliAlly

Famous Bearers

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If you like Allison…

Alice— the root name sharing the same noble Old French/German origin
Madison— surname crossover girls' name with the same three-syllable modern American feel
Addison— surname-to-girls'-name with the same -son ending and similar sound
Emerson— surname name for girls with the same three-syllable American vitality

Frequently Asked

What does the name Allison mean?

Allison is a medieval French diminutive of Alice, meaning 'noble' or 'of noble kind,' from the Old High German adal.

How do you pronounce Allison?

It is said AL-ih-sun /ˈæl.ɪ.sən/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Allison a boy or girl name?

Allison is used almost exclusively as a girl's name.

How popular is Allison?

Allison has been a consistent U.S. top-100 girls' name since the mid-20th century.