Alison?

LOVE it. and much nicer than Alice IMO.

Would have had it for one of my dds if I'd had my way but there was a Bad Alison at my dps school- so he refused!

It wouldn't be anywhere near my top thirty names that I'd give to a child.

It's not that I hate it, but it just doesn't inspire me. Alison Mosshart of The Kills is pretty cool and even she doesn't make me want to give it to a child.

Having said that Alison has some good points going for it; no Alison I've ever known has ever been a walkover, they're usually strong willed and opinionated and it's a name that I'd easily expect to see on a list of top women in business. They're a feisty lot!

In my mind it falls into the same group as Caroline, Rachel, Karen, Ruth, Amanda etc. A bit 70s/80's.
If you like it though, go for it. The whole naming business is so superficial. It only takes a designer to name a handbag or shoe 'Alison', then a celebrity to name a baby after their mother and then perhaps a character in a film to be named that and people start to change their opinion of a name and think that they are completely original in liking that name! In twenty years from now, it probably will be fashionable.

Another Alyson here, yes the 'Y' has been a pain at times, but I have to say I like it now, more unusual - the only thing I hate is being called Al - Aly is great, though only used by close friends and family. I've always thought it as slightly staid - and particularly hated encountering other alisons... being in work places where I was refered to as Aly.D for example... however its rare at the moment its the Isobels / Graces/Sophias who will have to add their initial to their names in the future at school /work I guess

Its not that I dislike Alison but I do think its a bit dull. There SO many other lovely names you could choose from beginning with an A.

Ava
Anna
Annabel
Alice
Alicia
Amber
Amellia
Amelie

I'm an Alison and having read your postings, I have to say, I'm edgy (had piercings and a psycho-billy quiff at 20), brainy (masters degree)and yet slightly overweight (size 14). Still, i love my name. I have always hated Ali though and have always been shortened by very close friends to 'Al'. And I what's with this 70's thing? I was born in 1968. My middle name is Jane by the way, which i have never liked.

My name is Allison with 2 'ls'.
The double 'l' caused me no end of grief when I was a kid. I couldn't get anything with my name spelled correctly on it. My brother and sister had no such problems.
Now that I am in Australia, it seems that Allison is the more common way to spell it. I am slowly getting out of the habit of saying my name and then adding "that's with 2 'ls'".

My sister is Alison. She gets called Al or Allie. I hate her being called Allie (he DP does that) though. I do not know anyone under the age of 25 called Alison (1 L please not 2) so she will be most likely the only one in her class which would be nice given the amount of Lilys Roses and Isabelles.

One of my best friends is called Alison and is always known as Ali. She's lovely.

Not as obsessed as the woman on Twitter who only follows women called Alison!

I keep thinking that this thread is calling for me
by the way, I am sparky and outgoing and also (it seems) self-obsessed

Another one here! I'm an Al though - definitely not an Ali

Another signing in ...

I've always hated it though, and much prefer to be called Ali ...

I don't know. I sort of like names that are out of fashion. I know of a baby Richie and I love Melanie which is a my generation name.... I kind of like Alison. Different but normal. If you love it, go for it.

haha hard for me to be objective
it's a great name, and there are LOTS of songs about us!
shortened versions are all good too
go for it

Yes alipiggie, I've just realized how old I am, and that Alison, Susan, etc. are all 60s names

I'm an Alison/Ali (80's) and not keen. Would sound silly if I wanted to marry Boris Johnson

There's an Alison, aged 9 in dd3's class. I think it's a lovely name.

i like 70s names - was considering jennifer for my daughter born 5 weeks ago.

Alison is great

Another Alison here and I'm a sixties baby by the way. And I'm not fat either . It's a great name and the diminutives are great too. I've always like my name. But no pressure obviously.a

I like it.

I'm an Allison (with the double l ) still not sure if I totally like it to be truthful (you would think I would know by now being a child of the (early) 70's). I dont know many others with this name, so it's ok really

I always thought I'd call my DD Alison, mainly because of the Elvis Costello track.

I like it

I like it! I have a good friend called Alison and she's way cool.

I'm liking you much more than some of these other posters, godzilla ...

Oh - and not butch btw, still feminine but not overly fluffy.