Alison vs Vanessa
Alison and Vanessacompared 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 Vanessa #20 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1996, Alison was ranked #97 and Vanessa #75 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alison was ranked #213 and Vanessa #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Alison was ranked #440 and Vanessa #234 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alison was ranked #1603 and Vanessa #533 among girls in England and Wales.
Alison and Vanessa over time
Alison and Vanessa appear together in 4 published lists, across 136 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 2 of those lists, Vanessa 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 New Zealand · Girls, Vanessa moved into the top 50 at #34 in 1969 as Alison fell out of it to #54, having been #44 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1986, Vanessa moved ahead of Alison in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #35 and #44 the year before became #50 and #39.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alison and Vanessa changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1963 and 1996, ending at #97 and #75.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Alison and Vanessa averaged 16.4 places apart, ending at #97 and #75.
- Longest-running competitions
Alison and Vanessa were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 33 years, from 1963 to 1996, ending at #97 and #75.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alison #225 in 1996, Vanessa #202 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1965–2025
Alison held the stronger position in 59 of those years, Vanessa in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alison #33 in 1989, Vanessa #97 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alison #213, Vanessa #413.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls33 shared years, 1963–1996
Alison held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Vanessa in 15.
Highest recorded here: Alison #18 in 1979, Vanessa #17 in 1975.
The order changed in 1986: Vanessa moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #35 and #44; by 1986 that had become #50 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Alison #97, Vanessa #75.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alison held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Vanessa in 28.
Highest recorded here: Alison #225 in 1996, Vanessa #202 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alison #1603, Vanessa #533.
New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 1967–1979
Alison held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Vanessa in 11.
Highest recorded here: Alison #33 in 1967, Vanessa #15 in 1973.
The order changed in 1969: Vanessa moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #44 and #49; by 1969 that had become #54 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Alison #70, Vanessa #20.
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 | Vanessa |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | Norway · Girls #187 (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 Vanessa 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
Vanessa
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1967–1995
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1973 (recorded 1967–1995).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #187 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls