Alison vs Madeline
Alison and Madelinecompared 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 1996, Alison was ranked #97 and Madeline #41 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alison was ranked #213 and Madeline #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alison was ranked #1603 and Madeline #305 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Alison was ranked #440 and Madeline #327 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Alison and Madeline over time
Alison and Madeline appear together in 2 published lists, across 85 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 1965, Alison moved ahead of Madeline in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #146 and #140 the year before became #117 and #140.
- Longest-running competitions
Alison and Madeline were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 56 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #213 and #544.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #146 and #140 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #213 and #544.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2025
Alison held the stronger position in 55 of those years, Madeline in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alison #33 in 1989, Madeline #140 in 1964.
The order changed in 1965: Alison moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #146 and #140; by 1965 that had become #117 and #140.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alison #213, Madeline #544.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Madeline in 29.
Highest recorded here: Alison #225 in 1996, Madeline #110 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alison #1603, Madeline #305.
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 | Madeline |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4 |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #544 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alison has 3 syllables, compared with 4 for Madeline.
- 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
Madeline
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #140 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1992–2019
Highest recorded position: #32 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1997 (recorded 1992–2019).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls