name
Uncommon
Alison
A-lih-suhn
Alison (name) means a female given name of Germanic origin, brought into English via Old French as a diminutive related to Alice. Example: “Alison has been a popular name in Britain and North America for generations.”
name
1
A female given name of Germanic origin, brought into English via Old French as a diminutive related to Alice.
"Alison has been a popular name in Britain and North America for generations."
"“Fun Home” may have won several awards for author Alison Bechdel, but some Duke University freshmen were not impressed."
— Todd Leopold, Duke students reject award-winning book over gay themes (2015)
noun
1
Another spelling of alyssum, a small flowering garden plant.
"She planted a border of sweet alison along the garden path."
How to use Alison
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost familiar as a common female first name; occasionally the name of a garden flower.
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Word forms
- Plural
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_____ has been a popular name in Britain and North America for generations.
Etymology
From Old French Alison, a diminutive of Aliz (Alice), which traces back to a Germanic name meaning "of noble kind."
Related words
Rhymes for Alison
See all rhymes for Alison →Frequently asked questions
What does “Alison” mean?
The word “Alison” means a female given name of Germanic origin, brought into English via Old French as a diminutive related to Alice. In plain terms, most familiar as a common female first name; occasionally the name of a garden flower.
How do you pronounce “Alison”?
“Alison” is pronounced A-lih-suhn (/ˈælɪsən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Alison” in a sentence?
Here is “Alison” used in a sentence: “Alison has been a popular name in Britain and North America for generations.”
What part of speech is “Alison”?
Depending on how it is used, “Alison” can be a name and a noun.
Where does the word “Alison” come from?
The word “Alison” comes from Old French. From Old French Alison, a diminutive of Aliz (Alice), which traces back to a Germanic name meaning "of noble kind.".
Is “Alison” a common word?
“Alison” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Alison” have?
“Alison” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a female given name of Germanic origin, brought into English via Old French as a diminutive related to Alice.
What is the difference between "Alison" and "Allison"?
Both are variant spellings of the same female given name, derived via Old French as a diminutive related to Alice. The single-l "Alison" and double-l "Allison" spellings are used interchangeably depending on personal or regional preference.
Is "Alison" also used as a common noun?
Yes, "Alison" is an alternate spelling of "alyssum," a small flowering garden plant, separate from its use as a given name.
What is the origin of the name Alison?
Alison is of Germanic origin, brought into English through Old French as a diminutive form related to the name Alice.
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