Allison vs Melanie
Allison 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1980, Allison was ranked #85 and Melanie #24 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Allison was ranked #631 and Melanie #441 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Allison was ranked #3318 and Melanie #934 among girls in England and Wales.
Allison and Melanie over time
Allison and Melanie appear together in 3 published lists, across 91 years of shared records. Melanie held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Allison in 0.
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.
Allison reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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 1971, Melanie moved ahead of Allison in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #89 and #98 the year before became #63 and #59.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Allison and Melanie changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1965 and 2024, ending at #631 and #441.
- Longest-running competitions
Allison and Melanie were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 53 years, from 1965 to 2024, ending at #631 and #441.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls53 shared years, 1965–2024
Allison held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Melanie in 46.
Highest recorded here: Allison #164 in 1966, Melanie #141 in 1975.
The order changed in 2024: Melanie moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #727 and #856; by 2024 that had become #631 and #441.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Allison #631, Melanie #441.
England and Wales · Girls27 shared years, 1996–2024
Allison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melanie in 27.
Highest recorded here: Allison #1317 in 1999, Melanie #239 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Allison #3318, Melanie #934.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls11 shared years, 1970–1980
Allison held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Melanie in 10.
Highest recorded here: Allison #63 in 1971, Melanie #14 in 1977.
The order changed in 1971: Melanie moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #89 and #98; by 1971 that had become #63 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 1980: Allison #85, Melanie #24.
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 | Allison | 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, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #631 (2024) | Norway · Girls #482 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Allison and Melanie both have 3 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Allison
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #372 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 recorded1965–1980
Highest recorded position: #63 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1971 (recorded 1965–1980).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3318 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · 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