Alison

Alison is a feminine given name derived from Alice, which itself stems from the Old French Adelais, a medieval form of Adalheidis (Adelaide). The name has produced several modern spellings, including Alison, Allison, and Alyson. It has appeared in English-speaking countries since the Middle Ages and remains in use today.

Notable people named Alison include cartoonist Alison Bechdel; musician Alison Krauss; actress Alison Brie; singer and songwriter Alison Sudol (A Fine Frenzy); actress Alison Pill; and musician Alison Goldfrapp.

As a surname, Alison occurs less often; variants Allison and Alyson are common in contemporary use, and the name appears in fiction and popular culture.