Alison vs Jane
Alison and Janecompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1984, Alison was ranked #35 and Jane #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1979, Alison was ranked #70 and Jane #56 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Alison was ranked #440 and Jane #178 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alison was ranked #213 and Jane #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alison was ranked #1603 and Jane #1160 among girls in England and Wales.
Alison and Jane over time
Alison and Jane appear together in 5 published lists, across 160 years of shared records. Jane held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Alison in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Jane reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 1968, Alison moved ahead of Jane in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #31 and #29 the year before became #32 and #34.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alison and Jane changed places 11 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1603 and #1160.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Alison and Jane averaged 24.7 places apart, ending at #35 and #93.
- Longest-running competitions
Alison and Jane were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 33 years, from 1952 to 1984, ending at #35 and #93.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alison #225 in 1996, Jane #316 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alison held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Jane in 20.
Highest recorded here: Alison #33 in 1989, Jane #59 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alison #213, Jane #213.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls33 shared years, 1952–1984
Alison held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Jane in 15.
Highest recorded here: Alison #18 in 1979, Jane #25 in 1966.
The order changed in 1968: Alison moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #31 and #29; by 1968 that had become #32 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Alison #35, Jane #93.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alison held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Jane in 17.
Highest recorded here: Alison #225 in 1996, Jane #316 in 1996.
The order changed in 2022: Jane moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #1402 and #2341; by 2022 that had become #1948 and #1023.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alison #1603, Jane #1160.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1954–1979
Alison held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Jane in 22.
Highest recorded here: Alison #30 in 1966, Jane #28 in 1957.
The order changed in 1967: Jane moved ahead. In 1966 they stood at #30 and #31; by 1967 that had become #33 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Alison #70, Jane #56.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2013
Alison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jane in 10.
Highest recorded here: Alison #118 in 1998, Jane #80 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alison #440, Jane #178.
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 | Jane |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| 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 #213 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alison has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Jane.
- 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 #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Jane
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #246 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1984
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1952–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls