Alison, derived from the French name Alice, meaning "noble" or "of noble rank," was quite popular during the Middle Ages and has since retained its popularity worldwide. Spelled variously as Alison, Alyson, and Allisson, it reached peak popularity in the United States during the 1980s and remains a favored choice today. Notable bearers of this name include British actress Alison Steadman, American singer-songwriter Alison Moyet, and Australian swimmer Alison Balinska.
"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."