Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

We have decided to go with Alison

92 replies

emmyloo2 · 17/05/2013 06:22

After much discussion, posting, more discussion, arguments etc, we have tentatively decided to go with Alison for DD due in 9 days.

I am still having a few wobbles but I think I would have that with any name. My main concern is I feel like it's a little dated because I know quite a few Alisons in their 30s. However, my DH really likes it and it's my late aunty's name and so we have decided family trumps trends.

I always envisages we would go with something old-fashioned to match DS (George) but this seems to be where we have landed.

Not sure why I am posting but any last minute thoughts or comments, encouragement or otherwise, would be appreciated.

Thanks!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
bridgetsmum · 17/05/2013 10:29

I love it, a beautiful name. Grin

kelda · 17/05/2013 10:28

Alison as a name is fine. But I am concerned that you don't seem very enthousiatic about it yourself. I love some of the names you've suggested - Maude, Hazel, Ruth.

I have a Hazel and I love the names Alice and Martha and Tess.

BTW I know a baby SimonSmile

SoggySummer · 17/05/2013 10:28

Its never been a favourite of mine but it will be a "rare" name for her generation without being stupidly whacky and leave people saying WTF???

If you like it then go for it.

soontobeslendergirl · 17/05/2013 10:28

Alison is lovely - I like some of your other options (elizabeth, Eleanor and Caroline), but Alison is far lovlier - it is not in the same vein as Barbara etc at all.

I wouldn't go for Elizabeth teamed with George personally as that is a bit "royal" for me as a duo.

Alice is becoming more popular I think - having Alison just makes it a little different without being an unknown name or too far from the style of George.

everlong · 17/05/2013 10:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

larry5 · 17/05/2013 10:24

Dd who is 20 is called Alison and also known as Ali. We chose it because we knew of people from 80 down to 5 when she was born so thought it would not date in the same way as all the Emmas and Emilys that were around at the time.

I love th name and it really suits dd as the people we knew called Alison were strong independent people and that is how dd has turned out!

hatebeak · 17/05/2013 10:23

Alison is lovely. It's got a medieval ring that outweighs the 70s/80s sound and also sounds quite fresh again now. That plus meaning to you equals winner, I think!

MortifiedAdams · 17/05/2013 10:15

Elizabeth isnt that popular among newborns though.

Elizabeth Alison is nice.

everlong · 17/05/2013 10:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

language · 17/05/2013 10:12

Alison is a wonderful name, both for a baby and a grown up woman! Go for it.

RooneyMara · 17/05/2013 09:52

I see what you mean. Sometimes relevance trumps beauty.

But fwiw I prefer Elizabeth by far.

mum47 · 17/05/2013 09:49

My name is Alison. I am 50 this year and am Scottish, my maiden name is very Scottish.
I have never been able to decide whether I like my name or not, but when I see it on this post, I do quite like it, iykwim. I do get called Ally by some people, when I was younger I got called Ally Bally Bee after the song.

EskSmith · 17/05/2013 09:46

I think it is lovely actually. To me it is a classic name.
Go for it :)

Original poster
emmyloo2 · 17/05/2013 09:44

Thanks all. To answer Rooney - I like it, but I wouldn't say I love it. I love it only because it's my aunty's name and there is a whole family history which makes it very special. But do I love it as a stand alone name? No.

I think that's my wobble. However, we can't seem to agree another name which I do love. Our other option is Elizabeth which I do love, but it's very popular and a little "safe" for me. If I had my choice, I would name her Mabel, Maude, Agnes, Hazel, Ruth or Margaret. None of these passed the muster with DH. So we have sort met in the middle with Alison, which is my family name and he really likes it. So perhaps that's why I have some niggling doubts.

Other options we have both liked but discounted are: Nina (I don't love this either though), Eleanor, Caroline, Josephine etc.

OP posts:
Theas18 · 17/05/2013 09:42

Great name ! I know Alison who is 60+ and and several of 40+ no one younger but it's due a return I reckon.

FobblyWoof · 17/05/2013 09:38

I really like Alison. We have an Alice and would love a George but it really doesn't go with our last name!

RooneyMara · 17/05/2013 09:34

Stella I think you're right. Sorry.

LittleDirewolfBitJoffrey · 17/05/2013 09:19

My best friend is called Alison so I love it! Great choice!

StellaNova · 17/05/2013 09:14

It isn't like the girl version of Keith! We had two Alisons in my class, no Keith! More like girl version of Simon.

RooneyMara · 17/05/2013 09:06

Hmmm, do you actually like it? Or love it?

I think you would know if you did.

It is dated imo, a bit like the girl version of Keith I suppose Smile but the main thing is not to be trendy, or to be anti trendy either. It's to have a meaning and also to be something you relate to and love.

If you give a baby a name for any other reason than you love the name, you might end up regretting it.

iyswim? What are your other options, if you don't actually love this one?

StellaNova · 17/05/2013 09:05

I think I said on your other thread - unless 2 people are considering Alison! - that I think it is great. I know a baby Ally but I think her actual name is Ally. Its a very old, traditional name - the Chaucer character was a bit cheeky!

MMMarmite · 17/05/2013 09:04

I think you get the best of both worlds here. It's a classic name so she won't be constantly asked how to spell or pronounce it. But she also won't be one of 3 Alison's in her class, so won't have to be known as "Alison B" or "tall Alison".

MyCatsRule · 17/05/2013 08:58

I know a little Alison! It's a lovely name. Good luck!

NorthernLurker · 17/05/2013 08:25

I think it's a nice name and Ally is very cute. Most of all though it's full of meaning for you and your family. Good luck with the delivery.

Decoy · 17/05/2013 08:22

Lovely classic name.