Alyson

A Old French name gently fading from the charts.

Girl's name| Also boysOld FrenchDeclining
#1234 35in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A female given name.

Alyson is a girl's and boy's baby name of Old French origin, a medieval French form of Alice, from the Germanic Adalheidis, meaning 'noble nature' or 'of noble kind,' composed of adal (noble) and heid (nature, kind).

The Y spelling became particularly common in the late 20th century and gives this classic name a slightly more contemporary feel. Actress Alyson Hannigan — beloved for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and How I Met Your Mother — has been a prominent bearer, giving the name a warm, girl-next-door quality that suits it perfectly.

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Popularity Over Time

Alyson was #456 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #1234, but its charm endures.

01853715567411960198020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Alyson
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s1,070
2010s4,444
2000s6,397
1990s6,614
1980s5,564
1970s3,368
1960s1,412
1950s585
1940s118

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(81 years, 19442024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Alyson
YearBirthsRank
2024189#1234
2023200#1199
2022201#1196
2021247#1027
2020233#1063
2019281#939
2018305#887
2017326#832
2016356#798
2015419#679
2014496#594
2013498#577
2012555#541
2011620#480
2010588#510
2009642#480
2008654#483
2007595#524
2006668#472
2005652#470

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Alyson as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Alyson has also been given to 10 boys in the U.S. since 1986.

Unranked
Current rank
10
Total births
1986
Peak year
Compare Alyson as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Alyson be used for both boys and girls?
Yes, Alyson is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #1234. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (19442024) · Methodology