Alison vs Linda
Alison and Lindacompared 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 1986, Alison was ranked #50 and Linda #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1979, Alison was ranked #70 and Linda #76 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Alison was ranked #118 and Linda #301 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alison was ranked #213 and Linda #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Alison was ranked #1719 and Linda #1892 among girls in England and Wales.
Alison and Linda over time
Alison and Linda appear together in 4 published lists, across 149 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Linda 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 took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Girls, Alison moved into the top 50 at #33 in 1989 as Linda fell out of it to #57, having been #34 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1971, Alison moved ahead of Linda in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #34 and #24 the year before became #23 and #32.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alison and Linda changed places 8 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1719 and #1892.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 35 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Alison and Linda averaged 31.3 places apart, ending at #50 and #99.
- Longest-running competitions
Alison and Linda were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1719 and #1892.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alison #225 in 1996, Linda #638 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2025
Alison held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Linda in 25.
Highest recorded here: Alison #33 in 1989, Linda #13 in 1973.
The order changed in 1989: Alison moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #58 and #34; by 1989 that had become #33 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alison #213, Linda #718.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls35 shared years, 1952–1986
Alison held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Linda in 19.
Highest recorded here: Alison #18 in 1979, Linda #12 in 1963.
The order changed in 1971: Alison moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #34 and #24; by 1971 that had become #23 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Alison #50, Linda #99.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alison held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Linda in 12.
Highest recorded here: Alison #225 in 1996, Linda #638 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alison #1719, Linda #1892.
New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1954–1979
Alison held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Linda in 23.
Highest recorded here: Alison #30 in 1966, Linda #7 in 1957.
The order changed in 1977: Alison moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #84 and #81; by 1977 that had become #76 and #88.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Alison #70, Linda #76.
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 | Linda |
|---|---|---|
| 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 #718 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alison has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Linda.
- 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
Linda
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #329 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1975 (recorded 1945–2024).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1892 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls