Alison vs Elaine
Alison and Elainecompared 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 1958, Alison was ranked #42 and Elaine #94 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1955, Alison was ranked #78 and Elaine #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Alison was ranked #118 and Elaine #213 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alison was ranked #213 and Elaine #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Alison was ranked #1719 and Elaine #1133 among girls in England and Wales.
Alison and Elaine over time
Alison and Elaine appear together in 2 published lists, across 89 years of shared records. Alison held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Elaine in 0.
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.
Elaine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Alison 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, Alison moved into the top 50 at #44 in 1995 as Elaine fell out of it to #64, having been #48 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1995, Alison moved ahead of Elaine in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #50 and #48 the year before became #44 and #64.
- Longest-running competitions
Alison and Elaine were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1719 and #1133.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alison #225 in 1996, Elaine #823 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2025
Alison held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Elaine in 29.
Highest recorded here: Alison #33 in 1989, Elaine #6 in 1982.
The order changed in 1995: Alison moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #50 and #48; by 1995 that had become #44 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alison #213, Elaine #608.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alison held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Elaine in 5.
Highest recorded here: Alison #225 in 1996, Elaine #823 in 1996.
The order changed in 2022: Elaine moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #1402 and #1454; by 2022 that had become #1948 and #1081.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alison #1719, Elaine #1133.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Alison
Pairs where Alison shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Gemma vs Alison
In 1964 they stood at #149 and #146 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #718 and #213.
Gemma · Alison · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alison vs Cara
Over 60 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Cara rose about as far as Alison fell — from #98 and #344 in 1966 to #213 and #52 in 2025.
Alison · Cara · 60 shared years, 1966–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Sophia vs Alison
Over 60 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Sophia rose about as far as Alison fell — from #325 and #117 in 1965 to #14 and #213 in 2025.
Sophia · Alison · 60 shared years, 1965–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Caoimhe vs Alison
Over 57 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe rose about as far as Alison fell — from #380 and #98 in 1966 to #31 and #213 in 2025.
Caoimhe · Alison · 57 shared years, 1966–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Elaine
Pairs where Elaine shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Elaine vs Alice
In 1964 they stood at #58 and #57 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #41.
Elaine · Alice · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Elaine vs Orla
In 1964 they stood at #58 and #52 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #189.
Elaine · Orla · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Elaine vs Jane
In 1964 they stood at #58 and #59 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #213.
Elaine · Jane · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Louise vs Elaine
In 1964 they stood at #54 and #58 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #213 and #608.
Louise · Elaine · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Alison | Elaine |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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, 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 Elaine 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
Elaine
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #71 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1982 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1133 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls