Allison Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: AL-ih-sun /ˈælɪsən/
Origin: English; French
Meaning: Noble; of noble birth
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Allison has its roots in the Old French name "Alicien," which is derived from the Germanic name "Adalheidis," meaning "noble kind" or "of noble birth." The name entered the English language through the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, where it was adapted into various forms, including "Alison" and "Allison." Over time, the name evolved in spelling and pronunciation, with "Allison" becoming a common variant in English-speaking countries by the late Middle Ages. Historically, the name Allison has been associated with notable figures and texts.
In the 12th century, the name appeared in the works of medieval literature, often linked to characters of noble lineage. One significant milestone in its historical journey is its inclusion in Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" in the 14th century, where it reflects the social dynamics of the time.
Additionally, the name has been borne by various saints, contributing to its religious and cultural significance throughout the centuries. Culturally, Allison has been embraced in various traditions and has often been associated with qualities of nobility and grace.
The name has also seen variations and diminutives, such as "Ally" or "Allie," which have been used affectionately in different contexts. The enduring nature of the name can be attributed to its melodic sound and the positive connotations of nobility and heritage, making it a favored choice in literature and among families seeking to honor their lineage.
Famous people named Allison
In this section, you will find notable people named Allison. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Allison who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Allison who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Allison Janney is an actress best known for The West Wing, Mom, and I, Tonya.
Allison Williams is an actress and producer best known for Girls, Get Out, and A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Allison Krauss is a musician best known for her work with Union Station, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and Raising Sand.
Fictional characters named Allison
The following list of fictional characters named Allison is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Allison Reynolds is a fictional character from the film The Breakfast Club. She is a socially awkward girl who learns to express herself and connect with others during Saturday detention.
Allison Hargreeves is a fictional character from the comic series and Netflix show The Umbrella Academy. They are a member of the Hargreeves siblings with the ability to manipulate time and space.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Allison, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Allison. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Allison was first seen in the United States in 1908.
Allison has ranked as high as #81 nationally, which occurred in 1994, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Ohio, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Allison has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Allison is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Allison was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Allison (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 429 | |
| CA | 348 | |
| FL | 211 | |
| NY | 117 | |
| GA | 99 | |
| NC | 87 | |
| IL | 78 | |
| TN | 73 | |
| VA | 70 | |
| PA | 69 | |
| NJ | 69 | |
| AZ | 65 | |
| OH | 64 | |
| WA | 53 | |
| CO | 49 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Allison.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,622 |
| 2023 | 2,646 |
| 2022 | 2,711 |
| 2021 | 3,138 |
| 2020 | 3,159 |
| 2019 | 3,439 |
| 2018 | 3,693 |
| 2017 | 4,036 |
| 2016 | 4,782 |
| 2015 | 5,356 |
| 2014 | 5,476 |
| 2013 | 5,445 |
| 2012 | 5,427 |
| 2011 | 5,472 |
| 2010 | 5,867 |
| 2009 | 6,581 |
| 2008 | 6,241 |
| 2007 | 5,454 |
| 2006 | 5,564 |
| 2005 | 5,634 |
| 2004 | 5,873 |
| 2003 | 5,850 |
| 2002 | 6,239 |
| 2001 | 6,214 |
| 2000 | 6,315 |
| 1999 | 7,026 |
| 1998 | 7,861 |
| 1997 | 7,274 |
| 1996 | 7,455 |
| 1995 | 8,126 |
| 1994 | 8,150 |
| 1993 | 7,729 |
| 1992 | 6,903 |
| 1991 | 6,773 |
| 1990 | 7,134 |
| 1989 | 7,283 |
| 1988 | 7,145 |
| 1987 | 7,340 |
| 1986 | 7,575 |
| 1985 | 7,028 |
| 1984 | 6,040 |
| 1983 | 4,973 |
| 1982 | 5,171 |
| 1981 | 4,905 |
| 1980 | 4,868 |
| 1979 | 4,407 |
| 1978 | 3,864 |
| 1977 | 4,205 |
| 1976 | 4,028 |
| 1975 | 3,347 |
| 1974 | 2,959 |
| 1973 | 2,904 |
| 1972 | 2,797 |
| 1971 | 3,018 |
| 1970 | 2,630 |
| 1969 | 1,651 |
| 1968 | 1,536 |
| 1967 | 1,452 |
| 1966 | 1,768 |
| 1965 | 3,044 |
| 1964 | 2,077 |
| 1963 | 1,434 |
| 1962 | 1,313 |
| 1961 | 1,182 |
| 1960 | 1,068 |
| 1959 | 1,124 |
| 1958 | 987 |
| 1957 | 465 |
| 1956 | 402 |
| 1955 | 341 |
| 1954 | 290 |
| 1953 | 281 |
| 1952 | 255 |
| 1951 | 252 |
| 1950 | 157 |
| 1949 | 144 |
| 1948 | 130 |
| 1947 | 102 |
| 1946 | 85 |
| 1945 | 47 |
| 1944 | 45 |
| 1943 | 38 |
| 1942 | 34 |
| 1941 | 31 |
| 1940 | 24 |
| 1939 | 28 |
| 1938 | 27 |
| 1937 | 25 |
| 1936 | 30 |
| 1935 | 31 |
| 1934 | 26 |
| 1933 | 15 |
| 1932 | 21 |
| 1931 | 16 |
| 1930 | 17 |
| 1929 | 13 |
| 1928 | 22 |
| 1927 | 25 |
| 1926 | 37 |
| 1925 | 18 |
| 1924 | 18 |
| 1923 | 21 |
| 1922 | 18 |
| 1921 | 32 |
| 1920 | 23 |
| 1919 | 19 |
| 1918 | 30 |
| 1917 | 15 |
| 1916 | 24 |
| 1915 | 13 |
| 1914 | 11 |
| 1913 | 7 |
| 1912 | 12 |
| 1911 | 9 |
| 1910 | 5 |
| 1908 | 6 |