Namewise

Alison vs Leah

Alison and Leahcompared 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.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2013, Alison was ranked #440 and Leah #22 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Alison was ranked #213 and Leah #55 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 1977, Alison was ranked #76 and Leah #100 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1991, Alison was ranked #94 and Leah #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Alison was ranked #1719 and Leah #183 among girls in England and Wales.

Alison and Leah over time

Alison and Leah appear together in 4 published lists, across 118 years of shared records. Leah held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Alison in 1.

The order between them changed and held in one 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 4 of those lists, and Leah 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 moved ahead of the other

    In 1996, Leah moved ahead of Alison in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #44 and #57 the year before became #46 and #38.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Alison and Leah averaged 38.6 places apart, ending at #94 and #100.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 56 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Leah rose about as far as Alison fell — from #98 and #310 in 1966 to #213 and #55 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Alison and Leah were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1719 and #183.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1966–2025

    Alison held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Leah in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Alison #33 in 1989, Leah #9 in 2004.

    The order changed in 1996: Leah moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #44 and #57; by 1996 that had become #46 and #38.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Alison #213, Leah #55.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Alison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Leah in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Alison #225 in 1996, Leah #24 in 2002.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Alison #1719, Leah #183.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 1968–1991

    Alison held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Leah in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Alison #18 in 1979, Leah #47 in 1983.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1991: Alison #94, Leah #100.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2013

    Alison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Leah in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Alison #118 in 1998, Leah #10 in 2005.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2013: Alison #440, Leah #22.

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.

Other comparisons involving Leah

Pairs where Leah shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — mirrored each other.

All mirrored each other→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Alison, Leah
FieldAlisonLeah
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedLikely derives from a Hebrew word meaning 'weary, grieved'; an alternative theory suggests a connection to Akkadian 'littu' ('cow'). In the Old Testament, Leah was Jacob's first wife.
OriginNot yet recordedBiblical Hebrew, etymology disputed
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈliː.ə/
Syllables31
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025)Norway · Girls #12 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Leah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, etymology disputed); Alison does not have one recorded yet.
  • Alison has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Leah.
  • A meaning is recorded for Leah; Alison doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Alison

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–1996

    Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1979 (recorded 1952–1996).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1719 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Leah

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1966

    First recorded at #310 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1966–2025

    Highest recorded position: #9 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1966–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #183 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls