Alison vs Nuala
Alison and Nualacompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Alison was ranked #275 and Nuala #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Alison was ranked #440 and Nuala #370 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alison was ranked #1603 and Nuala #1036 among girls in England and Wales.
Alison and Nuala over time
Alison and Nuala appear together in 3 published lists, across 81 years of shared records. Alison held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Nuala 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.
Nuala reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1969, Alison moved ahead of Nuala in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #83 and #78 the year before became #71 and #111.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alison and Nuala changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1603 and #1036.
- Longest-running competitions
Alison and Nuala were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 44 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #275 and #898.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls44 shared years, 1964–2024
Alison held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Nuala in 4.
Highest recorded here: Alison #33 in 1989, Nuala #71 in 1965.
The order changed in 1969: Alison moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #83 and #78; by 1969 that had become #71 and #111.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alison #275, Nuala #898.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alison held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Nuala in 13.
Highest recorded here: Alison #225 in 1996, Nuala #860 in 2015.
The order changed in 2015: Nuala moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #1177 and #1272; by 2015 that had become #1362 and #860.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alison #1603, Nuala #1036.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1997–2013
Alison held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Nuala in 4.
Highest recorded here: Alison #118 in 1998, Nuala #161 in 1997.
The order changed in 2001: Nuala moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #220 and #348; by 2001 that had become #267 and #230.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alison #440, Nuala #370.
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 | Nuala |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | Scotland · Girls #431 (2024) |
| 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 Nuala.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
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
Nuala
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #90 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 recorded1964–2024
Highest recorded position: #71 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2024).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1036 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls