Alison vs Angela
Alison and Angelacompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1979, Alison was ranked #70 and Angela #5 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1996, Alison was ranked #97 and Angela #66 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alison was ranked #213 and Angela #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Alison was ranked #440 and Angela #440 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Alison was ranked #1719 and Angela #1229 among girls in England and Wales.
Alison and Angela over time
Alison and Angela appear together in 4 published lists, across 159 years of shared records. Angela held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Alison in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Angela reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Alison in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1982, Angela moved ahead of Alison in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #25 and #29 the year before became #22 and #21.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alison and Angela changed places 9 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1955 and 1996, ending at #97 and #66.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 41 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Alison and Angela averaged 11.2 places apart, ending at #97 and #66.
- Mirrored each other
Over 26 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Angela rose about as far as Alison fell — from #33 and #76 in 1954 to #70 and #5 in 1979.
- Longest-running competitions
Alison and Angela were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1719 and #1229.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alison #225 in 1996, Angela #382 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alison held the stronger position in 47 of those years, Angela in 15.
Highest recorded here: Alison #33 in 1989, Angela #21 in 1965.
The order changed in 1979: Alison moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #65 and #55; by 1979 that had become #63 and #76.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alison #213, Angela #608.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls41 shared years, 1955–1996
Alison held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Angela in 28.
Highest recorded here: Alison #18 in 1979, Angela #13 in 1974.
The order changed in 1982: Angela moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #25 and #29; by 1982 that had become #22 and #21.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Alison #97, Angela #66.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alison held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Angela in 25.
Highest recorded here: Alison #225 in 1996, Angela #382 in 1996.
The order changed in 2001: Angela moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #422 and #446; by 2001 that had become #570 and #389.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alison #1719, Angela #1229.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1954–1979
Alison held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Angela in 19.
Highest recorded here: Alison #30 in 1966, Angela #3 in 1975.
The order changed in 1961: Angela moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #37 and #51; by 1961 that had become #43 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Alison #70, Angela #5.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Alison | Angela |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alison and Angela both have 3 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Alison
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #76 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1996
Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1979 (recorded 1952–1996).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1719 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Angela
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #362 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–1998).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1229 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls