Alison vs Clodagh
Alison and Clodaghcompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alison was ranked #213 and Clodagh #47 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Alison was ranked #440 and Clodagh #71 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alison was ranked #1603 and Clodagh #1036 among girls in England and Wales.
Alison and Clodagh over time
Alison and Clodagh appear together in 3 published lists, across 101 years of shared records. Alison held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Clodagh in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Alison reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Clodagh in none. 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 took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Girls, Clodagh moved into the top 50 at #49 in 1997 as Alison fell out of it to #53, having been #46 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Clodagh moved ahead of Alison in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #46 and #48 the year before became #53 and #49.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alison and Clodagh changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1603 and #1036.
- Longest-running competitions
Alison and Clodagh were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #213 and #47.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alison #225 in 1996, Clodagh #897 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alison held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Clodagh in 29.
Highest recorded here: Alison #33 in 1989, Clodagh #34 in 2009.
The order changed in 1997: Clodagh moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #46 and #48; by 1997 that had become #53 and #49.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alison #213, Clodagh #47.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alison held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Clodagh in 7.
Highest recorded here: Alison #225 in 1996, Clodagh #897 in 1997.
The order changed in 2021: Clodagh moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #1238 and #1397; by 2021 that had become #1402 and #1195.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alison #1603, Clodagh #1036.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2013
Alison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Clodagh in 10.
Highest recorded here: Alison #118 in 1998, Clodagh #51 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alison #440, Clodagh #71.
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 | Clodagh |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A place-derived name, taken from the River Clodiagh in County Waterford, rather than from a traditional Irish word root. Popularised as a personal name by Clodagh Beresford (1879-1957), daughter of the Marquess of Waterford. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈkloʊdə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #47 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 65/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 74/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Clodagh has a recorded origin (Irish); Alison does not have one recorded yet.
- Alison has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Clodagh.
- A meaning is recorded for Clodagh; Alison doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
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 #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Clodagh
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #149 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #47 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls