Alyson
Girl name · #1389 in 2025 · Very rare
Alyson is currently the #1389 girl name in the United States — 157 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #680, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 11,465 girls born in 2025 was named Alyson.
The 81-year story
Alyson first appears in the Social Security records in 1944, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1990, when 741 girls were named Alyson — good for #358 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Alyson per year. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Alyson against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Alyson in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Alyson is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Alyson will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Alyson is most common
Geography matters for names, and Alyson is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Alyson is most common in NC (0.2 per 1,000), TX (0.2 per 1,000), FL (0.1 per 1,000), CA (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.1 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Alyson is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Alyson
Statistically, parents drawn to Alyson tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Allyson, Alison, Carson, Ashton, and Austin.
AllysonAlisonCarsonAshtonAustinAmberlyAntoniaAshly
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Alyson | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 157 | #1388 |
| 2024 | 191 | #1231 |
| 2023 | 200 | #1199 |
| 2022 | 201 | #1199 |
| 2021 | 247 | #1028 |
| 2020 | 233 | #1063 |
| 2019 | 281 | #939 |
| 2018 | 305 | #887 |
| 2017 | 326 | #832 |
| 2016 | 356 | #799 |
| 2015 | 419 | #680 |
| 2014 | 496 | #594 |
| 2013 | 498 | #577 |
| 2012 | 555 | #541 |
| 2011 | 620 | #480 |
| 2010 | 588 | #510 |
| 2009 | 642 | #480 |
| 2008 | 654 | #483 |
| 2007 | 595 | #524 |
| 2006 | 668 | #472 |
| 2005 | 652 | #470 |
| 2004 | 658 | #456 |
| 2003 | 675 | #444 |
| 2002 | 647 | #447 |
| 2001 | 607 | #456 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Alyson a popular girl name?
Alyson ranked #1389 among girls in 2025 with 157 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #680.
When was the name Alyson most popular?
Alyson peaked in 1990, when 741 American girls received the name (ranked #358 that year). Since 1990 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Alyson?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 11,465 newborn American girls was named Alyson. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.