Alison vs Vivien
Alison and Viviencompared 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 2022, Alison was ranked #222 and Vivien #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alison was ranked #1603 and Vivien #1406 among girls in England and Wales.
Alison and Vivien over time
Alison and Vivien appear together in 2 published lists, across 60 years of shared records. Alison held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Vivien in 0.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alison and Vivien changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1603 and #1406.
- Longest-running competitions
Alison and Vivien were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 31 years, from 1964 to 2022, ending at #222 and #747.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls31 shared years, 1964–2022
Alison held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Vivien in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alison #53 in 1997, Vivien #243 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Alison #222, Vivien #747.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alison held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Vivien in 10.
Highest recorded here: Alison #225 in 1996, Vivien #963 in 2014.
The order changed in 2021: Vivien moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #1238 and #1556; by 2021 that had become #1402 and #1161.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alison #1603, Vivien #1406.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Alison
Pairs where Alison shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Gemma vs Alison
In 1964 they stood at #149 and #146 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #718 and #213.
Gemma · Alison · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alison vs Cara
Over 60 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Cara rose about as far as Alison fell — from #98 and #344 in 1966 to #213 and #52 in 2025.
Alison · Cara · 60 shared years, 1966–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Sophia vs Alison
Over 60 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Sophia rose about as far as Alison fell — from #325 and #117 in 1965 to #14 and #213 in 2025.
Sophia · Alison · 60 shared years, 1965–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Caoimhe vs Alison
Over 57 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe rose about as far as Alison fell — from #380 and #98 in 1966 to #31 and #213 in 2025.
Caoimhe · Alison · 57 shared years, 1966–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Alison | Vivien |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #1406 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alison has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Vivien.
- 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
Vivien
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #327 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 recorded1964–2022
Highest recorded position: #243 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1968 (recorded 1964–2022).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1406 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls