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 2024, Alison was ranked #1603 and Leah #184 among girls in England and Wales.
Alison and Leah over time
Alison and Leah appear together in 4 published lists, across 117 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 Republic of Ireland · Girls for 56 years, from 1966 to 2025, ending at #213 and #55.
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 · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Leah in 29.
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, 2024: Alison #1603, Leah #184.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Alison | Leah |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Likely 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. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew, etymology disputed |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈliː.ə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | Norway · Girls #12 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
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
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
Leah
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1966–2025
Highest recorded position: #9 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1966–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #89 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls