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Ally

Say it: AL-ee/ˈæliː/

GirlMeans a pet form of Alice, Alison, Alexandra and similar names4 letters2 syllables

#483

in Ireland (2025)

#473 with spellings combined

7

babies in 2025

#180

best rank (2001)

358

babies since 1999

Down 157

10-year rank change

Ally through the years

Compare with another name →
Ally: babies per year in Ireland, 1964 to 20250510152025196419701980199020002010202020251998: CSO series changePeak 2005: 23
Ally: rank per year in Ireland, 1964 to 2025#1#10#50#100#250#500#1000196419701980199020002010202020251998: CSO series change
Ally: per 10,000 girls per year in Ireland, 1964 to 20250246810196419701980199020002010202020251998: CSO series change
Babies per 10,000 girls listed by the CSO that year, which evens out changes in the number of births.
Show the numbers
YearBabies (girls)Rank
20257#473
202411#341
20239#394
202210#384
202112#339
202013#313
201912#344
20185#614
20179#432
201615#303
201515#316
201416#304
201312#376
201212#399
20117#554
201015#333
200919#263
200817#291
200717#267
200617#247
200523#188
200413#272
200314#247
200215#238
200122#180
200011#269
199910#267

Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.

★ What does Ally mean?

A pet form of Alice, Alison, Alexandra and similar names

English, a pet form of names beginning with Al-.

Say it right

ALee

The story of Ally

Ally began as a pet form of longer names beginning with Al-, such as Alice, Alison and Alexandra. It has been used this way for a long time, and for boys it has served as a nickname for Alan, Alexander and Alfred. Its meaning depends on the longer name behind it. It sounds just like the English word ally, a friend or supporter, though the name did not come from that word.

In Ireland Ally is used as a full name for girls. It first reached the list in 1999 and was at its best in the early 2000s. It reached number 180 in 2001, and its biggest year was 2005, when 23 girls were named Ally. It has been quieter since, with 7 girls in 2025. The CSO counts Allie separately, and Allie is now the more common of the two. Ally has always been rare in Northern Ireland.

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Sources
  • Wiktionary: Ally (English proper noun)
  • Wikipedia: Ally (name)
  • CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
  • NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland

At a glance

Similar names

AllieAliceAlisonAlexandra

Sibling ideas

AlfieCharlieJack

Spellings counted here

Spelling2025All years
Ally7358

In Northern Ireland

Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #248 (2003); 8 babies since 2003.

Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.

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