Alison is a feminine given name of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Scottish form of the Germanic female name Adelaide, which means "noble" or "of noble rank". The name Alison has been in use since medieval times and was popularized by the character Alix in the French epic poem "The Song of Roland".
In Scotland, Alison was often used as a pet form of Ailis, the Scottish Gaelic form of the name Alice. It became quite common in Scotland during the 16th century and has remained a popular choice among Scottish parents to this day.
In English-speaking countries outside of Scotland, Alison gained popularity during the late 20th century. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, the name reached its peak popularity in 1987, when it was the 346th most popular girl's name that year.
Alison is also associated with several notable figures throughout history and popular culture. For example, Alison Weir is a renowned British historian who specializes in the Tudor period, while Alison Moyet is an English singer-songwriter known for her distinctive voice and soulful music.
The name Alison has been a relatively uncommon choice for newborns in the United States over the past century, with fluctuations in popularity throughout different decades. The earliest record of its usage as a baby name is from 1913, with only 7 births that year. This number remained low until the late 1960s when it began to steadily increase.
The years 1972 and 1975 saw significant spikes in popularity for Alison, with 15 and 16 births respectively. This period marked a notable trend towards choosing this name for newborn girls, which continued into the early 1980s. In fact, during these years, more than 20 babies were named Alison each year.
However, by the mid-1980s, there was another decline in its usage as a baby name. The peak popularity of Alison seems to have been between 1972 and 1983, with over 500 births during these years combined. Since then, it has remained relatively stable but low, averaging around 6-10 births per year from the late 1980s until recently.
Despite its ups and downs in popularity, Alison remains a unique choice for parents looking to give their child a distinctive name with historical roots.