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 experienced notable fluctuations over the century with peaks in the late 70s to early 80s (highest being 27 births in 1989) and a steady decline from the mid-90s onwards, dropping to single digits by the turn of the millennium."