Alison

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For the Central Coast suburb, see Alison, New South Wales
See also: Allison and Allie

Alison is a given name for a female. It was originally a medieval Norman nickname for Alice, meaning "noble type." Also from the Irish name, Iseult. Variations include Allison, Allyson, Alysson, Alyson,and Alisson, and nicknames Allie, Ali, and Ally. It also has separate roots as a family name, in which case when used as a given name is traditionally masculine, and is of disputed meaning.[1]

The name is first recorded in Scotland 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 in 2005 (Allyson was #253; Alison, #259; Alyson, #468; Allie, #256; Ally, #656; and Alice, #414).[2] In 1990 in the United States, 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.[3] Alison in any spelling didn't enter the top 100 baby names in 2005 in England and Wales, but Alice did come in at #44.[4]

Allison last entered the top 1000 baby names for males in the United States in the 1920s, when it ranked #851.[5] In the 1910s it ranked #825,[6] and in the first decade of the 20th century, it ranked #941.[7]

[edit] Famous Alisons

[edit] References

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