Alison vs Melanie
Alison and Melaniecompared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1979, Alison was ranked #70 and Melanie #17 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1996, Alison was ranked #97 and Melanie #78 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alison was ranked #213 and Melanie #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Alison was ranked #440 and Melanie #440 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alison was ranked #1603 and Melanie #934 among girls in England and Wales.
Alison and Melanie over time
Alison and Melanie appear together in 5 published lists, across 140 years of shared records. Melanie held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Alison in 1.
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.
Alison reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Melanie 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 1986, Melanie moved ahead of Alison in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #35 and #39 the year before became #50 and #32.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alison and Melanie changed places 7 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1970 and 1996, ending at #97 and #78.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Alison and Melanie averaged 17.3 places apart, ending at #97 and #78.
- Longest-running competitions
Alison and Melanie were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 61 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #213 and #885.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alison #225 in 1996, Melanie #239 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1965–2025
Alison held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Melanie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alison #33 in 1989, Melanie #128 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alison #213, Melanie #885.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alison held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Melanie in 28.
Highest recorded here: Alison #225 in 1996, Melanie #239 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Melanie moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #225 and #239; by 1997 that had become #268 and #260.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alison #1603, Melanie #934.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls27 shared years, 1970–1996
Alison held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Melanie in 18.
Highest recorded here: Alison #18 in 1979, Melanie #14 in 1977.
The order changed in 1986: Melanie moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #35 and #39; by 1986 that had become #50 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Alison #97, Melanie #78.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 1966–1979
Alison held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Melanie in 10.
Highest recorded here: Alison #30 in 1966, Melanie #8 in 1974.
The order changed in 1970: Melanie moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #54 and #67; by 1970 that had become #66 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Alison #70, Melanie #17.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 1997–2013
Alison held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Melanie in 3.
Highest recorded here: Alison #118 in 1998, Melanie #188 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alison #440, Melanie #440.
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 | Melanie |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| 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) | Norway · Girls #482 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alison and Melanie both have 3 syllables.
- 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
Melanie
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #385 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1966–1996
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1974 (recorded 1966–1996).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #482 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls