What is your image of a girl named "Allison"?

AMB11 · October 2010

My husband and I both really like the name and the nick name Allie. I'm wondering if it's too dated and/or what people think of when they hear the name.

I'm also open to any names that could lend themselves to the nick name Allie.

lovemytwoboys · October 2010

My first thought is Allison = bratty. I do also think it is dated.

On the other hand, I have a great association with Allie and think it is a really cute nickname.

So I'm torn.

veganxangel · October 2010

I've never met an Allison born after 1989, I don't see how some people on the board call it "classic" I rank this alongside with Ashley, Amanda, Melissa, Jennifer, Jessica, Stephanie and Tiffany.

Lithigin · October 2010

Allison is all-american and blond, and Allie is an athlete, probably brunette. Good solid traditional names.

ilovejud · October 2010

I know a ton of allisons and allies.... ranging in age 5 to 30.... I think it's cute just sooooo over-used!

AMB11 · October 2010

Part of me feels like names like Allison are ones that you won't have to worry about having a classroon full of them. Maybe that's an advantage of being "dated"

MrsFinn810 · October 2010

Bright and bubbly, like every Allison I've ever known. Love the name! Love nn Allie even more!

HappyMrsK · October 2010

veganxangel:
I've never met an Allison born after 1989, I don't see how some people on the board call it "classic" I rank this alongside with Ashley, Amanda, Melissa, Jennifer, Jessica, Stephanie and Tiffany.

I know quite a few Allison's born after 1989. I know people of varying ages with this name. It's an old name that is still used today and this is why it's classic IMO.

I think it's a sweet name.

Mrs.Carlybella · October 2010

i don't think it's dated at all- i teach high school and there were quite a few and they are all 90's babies - not 70's/80's.

I think it is pretty classic and a lovely name

Pythia1022 · October 2010

Allie makes me think of your classic "IT girl" in high school...skinny, cheerleader, "ohmigod like let's go to the malllllll", clique of friends (possibly named Jennifer, Melissa, and Jessica lol)

Allison gives me a male visual because I have a very close friend who is a boy named Allison, but I am sure that I am the minority in this association.

HarperM · October 2010

Allison- outdated. Bland.

Allie-Love it. I have a Great Aunt Allie and the name has aged well with her (she's 74!), its a cute name for a little girl and a great name for a teen/early twenties/thirties and beyond!

Mama_SAS · October 2010

My immediate reaction: spiral perm and teased bangs.

hopeann · October 2010

I think of a "girl-next-door" type. Allison was one of my top picks for girls.

ToBeMrsC6907 · October 2010

Personally I love Allison! I think it's classic and simple and pretty.

One of my BFFs is Allison/Alli and she is one of the most sweet, thoughtful people I know so I probably associate the name with her as well.

mommydale · October 2010

I love the name, but I wouldn't use it myself.

I actually have no bad association with the name, but it was very popular when I was in school. The only one I really got to know though was a really sweet girl that I played soccer with.

I think Allie is a very cute nn.

LMS05 · October 2010

I know a lot of Allisons so I don't have one particular image in my mind. I like the name. It's classic. I know a number of of little kids/babies named Allison/Allie.

LMS05 · October 2010

veganxangel:
I've never met an Allison born after 1989, I don't see how some people on the board call it "classic" I rank this alongside with Ashley, Amanda, Melissa, Jennifer, Jessica, Stephanie and Tiffany.

My mom is a preschool teacher and there are a lot of Allisons in her school.

BostonGayGal · October 2010

love it

I think of a good friend of mine. Smart. Accomplished. Elegant.

braveangel2 · October 2010

Tall, graceful girl....probably because the Alison/Allison I knew was tall, blond, light freckles, graceful and funny.

Moon_Safari · October 2010

The only Allison I know is 13 yrs old - she's athletic, smart, and pretty. I was born in 1976 and I never remember meeting an Allison in school. I think it's a nice name.

skittleblu · October 2010

allison = blonde, sweet, smart, average looks, not a popular girl, but not a nerd either

MrsRoy07 · October 2010

I think of my sister! So that's a pretty good association. It's a pretty name, although I'm going to agree that it does seem a little 80's to me. However, that would ensure your daughter wouldn't be in a class full of Allison's, and I don't think it's nearly as bad as Jennifer, Jessica, etc.

We never called my sis Ally, but I have a friend who goes by Ali and her name is Alicia.

avbliss · October 2010

Allison is a wonderful name! I think outgoing, and independent. Then again my name is Allison and I go by Allie. The only down side is being called AllyCat which I don't like but your daughter may like it.

1026pumpkin · October 2010

I LOVE this name and especially love the Allie nn- this was on our top 5 girl's list before we found out we were having a boy.

I think of Allison as a "girl next door" type- sweet, kind, smart, athletic.... I've only known 2 in real life, so I haven't found it to be a common name, and don't think it's dated. I think of it as one of the classic names.

Alexandra would also work well for Allie as nn...she could also make other nns out of it (Alex, Lex, Lexi, Sandra). Also close would be Callie (nn for Cassandra or as a name on its own).

brookelynpaisley · October 2010

I love Allison. It's on our list for a second girl. My only hesitation is that I don't like the NN Alli. I've never known someone named Allison that I didn't like, so it has a good association. The Allisons I've known have been smart, funny, and pretty, and all had long brown hair, coincidentally.

FirstBabyMomma · October 2010

I find it very strange that people draw such a clear distinction between Allison and Allie. For me, every Allison I know goes by the nickname Allie at some point (for me personally, it's only my family who call me Allie) so Allison = Allie!

I can't comment on how other people see me, but what I can tell you is that I have never once disliked my name, no one has ever thought I was going to be a boy despite the "boy" spelling of my name, I have a ton of nicknames (Al, Allie, Alliecat, etc) that I like, I have never had another Allison in my class at school (but there have been others close in age), and I feel like my name ages well (as in, was cute when I was a kid, is mature now that I'm older).

All in all, a great name!

MelodyKate · October 2010

I do think Allison is a little bit dated- not like Jennifer or Jessica, but still a little dated. I think of a pretty, but shy girl who can't quite get out of her awkward stage. I LOVE the nn Allie, and I have heard it for these names:

Allison

Alyssa

Alexandra

Alexandria

Alexis

Amelia

BetchySprout · October 2010

Class president 9 months pregnant at graduation is my memory of the only Allison I have ever known.

It is kind of dated, not a terrible name though.

Steph1673 · October 2010

My beautiful, bubbly, sweet, little blonde-haired 3-1/2 year old niece is named Allyson/Aly and it's quite fitting for her (though I would have chosen to spell it with an "i").

I think it's nice and never thought of it as dated. I was born in the early 80's and never had an Allison in my class or a friend named Allison. Although I never also put my name in the same "dated" category as "Tiffany", etc. until reading this board, so maybe I'm not a good judge ;-)

AliandJimmy · October 2010

My name is Alison but close family calls me Ali. I don't think there is any real association with a "type" for the name. I live in the midwest and it's not a terribly popular name around here. I was born in 1984 so the dated 80's does apply to me at least.

esperanza123 · October 2010

Definitely not dated at all. I teach high school and I've had many Allisons over the years and most have been, as many people have stated, the all American kind of girl with blue eyes, blonde hair, and athletic. It's a lovely, classic name.