Fun Facts About the Name Allison
- A favorite of earlier generations: Allison appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 50 years. Its last run lasted 2 consecutive years, from 2023 through 2024.
- More than 322 thousand babies named Allison: U.S. records list 322,914 babies given the name Allison from 1880 through 2025. Even 3,825 boys received the name Allison - about 1 boy for every 83 girls.
What Does the Name Allison Mean?
Allison is an English feminine given name meaning "noble kind" or "of noble type." It is a variant spelling of Alison, a medieval diminutive of Alice. Alice comes from the Old French Aalis or Alis, which developed from the Germanic name Adalheidis. That name is formed from adal, "noble," and heid, "kind, sort, or type." The Old French suffix -on was added to Alis to form Alison, and the modern spelling Allison is a later variant of that form. The related surname Allison is generally derived from the same medieval name, though it is sometimes explained as a patronymic meaning "son of Alice." The feminine given name itself continues the diminutive tradition rather than the "son of" construction.
Allison Name History & Origins
The name came into English after the Norman Conquest through the Old French Alison, a diminutive of Aalis (Alice). In medieval England, the name appeared in forms such as Alisoun and Alison. Geoffrey Chaucer uses Alisoun for the young wife in The Miller's Tale, a literary use of a name that was already in use. The spelling Allison, with a double l and the ending -son, developed later as a variant of Alison. The name also became a surname. In modern use, Allison, Alison, Alyson, and Allyson are all established spellings of the feminine given name.
How Popular is the Name Allison?
Allison ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1974 through 2021, then returned in 2023 and remained through 2024.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #103 | 2,564 | 0.1595% |
| 2024 | #99 | 2,622 | 0.1625% |
| 2023 | #100 | 2,646 | 0.1651% |
| 2022 | #101 | 2,711 | 0.1654% |
| 2021 | #82 | 3,138 | 0.1914% |
| 2020 | #80 | 3,159 | 0.1955% |
| 2019 | #77 | 3,439 | 0.2050% |
| 2018 | #70 | 3,693 | 0.2172% |
| 2017 | #61 | 4,036 | 0.2339% |
| 2016 | #50 | 4,782 | 0.2699% |
| 2015 | #39 | 5,356 | 0.3001% |
| 2014 | #39 | 5,476 | 0.3066% |
| 2013 | #34 | 5,445 | 0.3104% |
| 2012 | #38 | 5,427 | 0.3082% |
| 2011 | #40 | 5,472 | 0.3111% |
| 2010 | #38 | 5,867 | 0.3301% |
| 2009 | #30 | 6,581 | 0.3583% |
| 2008 | #32 | 6,241 | 0.3301% |
| 2007 | #46 | 5,454 | 0.2837% |
| 2006 | #47 | 5,564 | 0.2927% |
| 2005 | #45 | 5,634 | 0.3049% |
| 2004 | #40 | 5,873 | 0.3199% |
| 2003 | #46 | 5,850 | 0.3202% |
| 2002 | #44 | 6,239 | 0.3472% |
| 2001 | #44 | 6,214 | 0.3451% |
| 2000 | #44 | 6,315 | 0.3477% |
| 1999 | #40 | 7,026 | 0.3961% |
| 1998 | #38 | 7,861 | 0.4449% |
| 1997 | #39 | 7,274 | 0.4179% |
| 1996 | #38 | 7,455 | 0.4253% |
| 1995 | #34 | 8,126 | 0.4621% |
| 1994 | #34 | 8,150 | 0.4564% |
| 1993 | #41 | 7,729 | 0.4272% |
| 1992 | #48 | 6,903 | 0.3744% |
| 1991 | #50 | 6,773 | 0.3612% |
| 1990 | #48 | 7,134 | 0.3758% |
| 1989 | #46 | 7,283 | 0.3951% |
| 1988 | #46 | 7,145 | 0.4012% |
| 1987 | #44 | 7,340 | 0.4222% |
| 1986 | #42 | 7,575 | 0.4415% |
| 1985 | #46 | 7,028 | 0.4084% |
| 1984 | #51 | 6,040 | 0.3587% |
| 1983 | #59 | 4,973 | 0.2977% |
| 1982 | #58 | 5,171 | 0.3054% |
| 1981 | #57 | 4,905 | 0.2941% |
| 1980 | #59 | 4,868 | 0.2932% |
| 1979 | #70 | 4,407 | 0.2745% |
| 1978 | #75 | 3,864 | 0.2522% |
| 1977 | #66 | 4,205 | 0.2743% |
| 1976 | #67 | 4,028 | 0.2749% |
| 1975 | #89 | 3,347 | 0.2296% |
| 1974 | #99 | 2,959 | 0.2016% |
| 1973 | #105 | 2,904 | 0.1991% |
| 1972 | #115 | 2,797 | 0.1839% |
| 1971 | #119 | 3,018 | 0.1814% |
| 1970 | #133 | 2,630 | 0.1504% |
| 1969 | #194 | 1,651 | 0.0979% |
| 1968 | #202 | 1,536 | 0.0936% |
| 1967 | #209 | 1,452 | 0.0879% |
| 1966 | #184 | 1,768 | 0.1045% |
| 1965 | #128 | 3,044 | 0.1725% |
| 1964 | #181 | 2,077 | 0.1096% |
| 1963 | #229 | 1,434 | 0.0744% |
| 1962 | #241 | 1,313 | 0.0668% |
| 1961 | #260 | 1,182 | 0.0586% |
| 1960 | #277 | 1,068 | 0.0528% |
| 1959 | #264 | 1,124 | 0.0555% |
| 1958 | #284 | 987 | 0.0491% |
| 1957 | #434 | 465 | 0.0227% |
| 1956 | #462 | 402 | 0.0200% |
| 1955 | #496 | 341 | 0.0174% |
| 1954 | #521 | 290 | 0.0149% |
| 1953 | #512 | 281 | 0.0149% |
| 1952 | #534 | 255 | 0.0138% |
| 1951 | #525 | 252 | 0.0140% |
| 1950 | #681 | 157 | 0.0092% |
| 1949 | #705 | 144 | 0.0084% |
| 1948 | #741 | 130 | 0.0077% |
| 1947 | #870 | 102 | 0.0058% |
| 1946 | #908 | 85 | 0.0054% |
| 1945 | #1,142 | 47 | 0.0036% |
| 1944 | #1,175 | 45 | 0.0034% |
| 1943 | #1,327 | 38 | 0.0027% |
| 1942 | #1,388 | 34 | 0.0025% |
| 1941 | #1,383 | 31 | 0.0026% |
| 1940 | #1,592 | 24 | 0.0021% |
| 1939 | #1,401 | 28 | 0.0026% |
| 1938 | #1,439 | 27 | 0.0024% |
| 1937 | #1,497 | 25 | 0.0023% |
| 1936 | #1,321 | 30 | 0.0029% |
| 1935 | #1,307 | 31 | 0.0030% |
| 1934 | #1,440 | 26 | 0.0025% |
| 1933 | #2,056 | 15 | 0.0015% |
| 1932 | #1,687 | 21 | 0.0020% |
| 1931 | #2,028 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1930 | #2,026 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1929 | #2,438 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1928 | #1,786 | 22 | 0.0019% |
| 1927 | #1,673 | 25 | 0.0021% |
| 1926 | #1,279 | 37 | 0.0031% |
| 1925 | #2,120 | 18 | 0.0015% |
| 1924 | #2,142 | 18 | 0.0014% |
| 1923 | #1,896 | 21 | 0.0017% |
| 1922 | #2,113 | 18 | 0.0015% |
| 1921 | #1,438 | 32 | 0.0026% |
| 1920 | #1,754 | 23 | 0.0019% |
| 1919 | #1,922 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1918 | #1,412 | 30 | 0.0026% |
| 1917 | #2,206 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1916 | #1,536 | 24 | 0.0023% |
| 1915 | #2,257 | 13 | 0.0013% |
| 1914 | #2,130 | 11 | 0.0014% |
| 1913 | #2,547 | 7 | 0.0011% |
| 1912 | #1,621 | 12 | 0.0022% |
| 1911 | #1,663 | 9 | 0.0022% |
| 1910 | #2,415 | 5 | 0.0013% |
| 1908 | #1,873 | 6 | 0.0018% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #10,756 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2024 | #8,988 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2022 | #10,929 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2021 | #10,854 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #10,655 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #12,227 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2018 | #8,853 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2016 | #12,280 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #7,516 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #8,162 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2013 | #6,620 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2012 | #8,895 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2011 | #7,521 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2010 | #8,176 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2009 | #7,710 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2008 | #4,904 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 2007 | #12,443 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2006 | #10,730 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #5,885 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2004 | #3,738 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 2003 | #6,737 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2002 | #4,712 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2001 | #4,129 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2000 | #6,858 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1999 | #6,060 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1998 | #6,867 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1997 | #6,112 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1996 | #5,199 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1995 | #3,194 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1994 | #4,543 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1993 | #3,825 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1992 | #3,224 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1991 | #3,818 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1990 | #2,699 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1989 | #2,156 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1988 | #1,850 | 36 | 0.0019% |
| 1987 | #2,057 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1986 | #1,457 | 47 | 0.0026% |
| 1985 | #2,072 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1984 | #2,037 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1983 | #2,087 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1982 | #1,849 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1981 | #1,663 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 1980 | #1,966 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1979 | #2,050 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 1978 | #1,967 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 1977 | #1,905 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 1976 | #1,608 | 33 | 0.0021% |
| 1975 | #2,206 | 20 | 0.0013% |
| 1974 | #1,791 | 26 | 0.0017% |
| 1973 | #1,982 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1972 | #1,968 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1971 | #1,671 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1970 | #1,659 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1969 | #1,729 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1968 | #1,455 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 1967 | #1,218 | 38 | 0.0022% |
| 1966 | #1,301 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 1965 | #1,295 | 35 | 0.0019% |
| 1964 | #1,045 | 52 | 0.0026% |
| 1963 | #1,194 | 42 | 0.0021% |
| 1962 | #1,108 | 48 | 0.0023% |
| 1961 | #1,137 | 48 | 0.0023% |
| 1960 | #1,046 | 54 | 0.0025% |
| 1959 | #1,156 | 45 | 0.0021% |
| 1958 | #1,131 | 46 | 0.0022% |
| 1957 | #1,267 | 38 | 0.0018% |
| 1956 | #1,722 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1955 | #1,257 | 36 | 0.0017% |
| 1954 | #1,152 | 42 | 0.0021% |
| 1953 | #1,282 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 1952 | #1,112 | 43 | 0.0022% |
| 1951 | #1,152 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 1950 | #1,140 | 39 | 0.0022% |
| 1949 | #1,163 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 1948 | #1,233 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 1947 | #1,053 | 47 | 0.0026% |
| 1946 | #967 | 48 | 0.0030% |
| 1945 | #1,080 | 36 | 0.0027% |
| 1944 | #1,018 | 41 | 0.0030% |
| 1943 | #1,171 | 34 | 0.0024% |
| 1942 | #1,054 | 41 | 0.0030% |
| 1941 | #1,169 | 32 | 0.0026% |
| 1940 | #1,137 | 34 | 0.0029% |
| 1939 | #1,120 | 33 | 0.0030% |
| 1938 | #1,126 | 33 | 0.0030% |
| 1937 | #932 | 45 | 0.0042% |
| 1936 | #894 | 47 | 0.0045% |
| 1935 | #941 | 45 | 0.0043% |
| 1934 | #897 | 49 | 0.0047% |
| 1933 | #1,015 | 40 | 0.0040% |
| 1932 | #1,035 | 41 | 0.0039% |
| 1931 | #1,031 | 42 | 0.0040% |
| 1930 | #977 | 48 | 0.0044% |
| 1929 | #975 | 48 | 0.0045% |
| 1928 | #873 | 58 | 0.0052% |
| 1927 | #786 | 70 | 0.0062% |
| 1926 | #765 | 71 | 0.0064% |
| 1925 | #801 | 68 | 0.0061% |
| 1924 | #799 | 71 | 0.0063% |
| 1923 | #961 | 51 | 0.0047% |
| 1922 | #929 | 56 | 0.0051% |
| 1921 | #901 | 60 | 0.0054% |
| 1920 | #911 | 57 | 0.0054% |
| 1919 | #927 | 52 | 0.0053% |
| 1918 | #902 | 54 | 0.0053% |
| 1917 | #724 | 72 | 0.0078% |
| 1916 | #744 | 67 | 0.0075% |
| 1915 | #893 | 48 | 0.0057% |
| 1914 | #752 | 49 | 0.0075% |
| 1913 | #871 | 31 | 0.0060% |
| 1912 | #892 | 25 | 0.0058% |
| 1911 | #668 | 22 | 0.0097% |
| 1910 | #983 | 11 | 0.0057% |
| 1909 | #1,021 | 9 | 0.0055% |
| 1908 | #1,024 | 8 | 0.0052% |
| 1907 | #737 | 13 | 0.0089% |
| 1906 | #931 | 8 | 0.0060% |
| 1905 | #1,004 | 7 | 0.0053% |
| 1904 | #1,065 | 6 | 0.0047% |
| 1903 | #657 | 12 | 0.0101% |
| 1902 | #796 | 9 | 0.0073% |
| 1901 | #859 | 7 | 0.0066% |
| 1900 | #903 | 9 | 0.0060% |
| 1899 | #858 | 7 | 0.0066% |
| 1898 | #888 | 7 | 0.0057% |
| 1897 | #944 | 6 | 0.0053% |
| 1896 | #482 | 18 | 0.0151% |
| 1895 | #797 | 8 | 0.0068% |
| 1894 | #958 | 6 | 0.0052% |
| 1892 | #798 | 8 | 0.0066% |
| 1891 | #640 | 9 | 0.0089% |
| 1890 | #604 | 11 | 0.0099% |
| 1889 | #795 | 7 | 0.0063% |
| 1888 | #1,038 | 5 | 0.0041% |
| 1886 | #966 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1885 | #605 | 10 | 0.0093% |
| 1884 | #769 | 7 | 0.0061% |
| 1883 | #529 | 12 | 0.0115% |
| 1882 | #652 | 9 | 0.0079% |
| 1881 | #595 | 9 | 0.0089% |
| 1880 | #812 | 6 | 0.0054% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Allison
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Allison Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Powerful and complete. You are good intellectually and require several outlets for your energies. You are not a builder but a planner, and you want others to carry out your plans. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Allison's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Allison's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.