Allison vs James

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Allison

Girl #99 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"noble, exalted (via Alice)"

Origin: Old French (Aalis) from Germanic (Adalheidis)

Cultural Roots

English French Scottish

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#99
Total SSA Count
2,622
Syllables
3
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Ali, Allie, Ally

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
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James

Boy #5 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"supplanter, one who follows at the heel"

Origin: Hebrew

Cultural Roots

English Scottish Biblical

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#5
Total SSA Count
11,793
Syllables
1
Formality
Formal
Nicknames
Jim, Jimmy, Jamie

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for James →

Popularity Comparison

Allison Rank #99
James Rank #5

James is more popular, ranked #5 vs #99 for Allison.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Allison ___

  • Allison Grace
  • Allison Marie
  • Allison Elizabeth
  • Allison Rose
  • Allison Claire
  • Allison Jane

James ___

  • James Alexander
  • James William
  • James Thomas
  • James Edward
  • James Henry
  • James Patrick

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Allison

Madison Paige Taylor Hailey Emma

If you choose James

Charlotte Olivia Emma William Henry

Which Name Fits Your Family?

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1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Allison or James more popular?

James is more popular, ranked #5 compared to Allison at #99 in the United States.

What do Allison and James mean?

Allison means "noble, exalted (via Alice)" (Old French (Aalis) from Germanic (Adalheidis) origin). James means "supplanter, one who follows at the heel" (Hebrew origin).

Are Allison and James boy or girl names?

Allison is primarily a girl name. James is primarily a boy name.

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← Full profile: Allison ← Full profile: James Browse all baby names