Alison is a given name for a female. It was originally a medieval Norman nickname for Alice, meaning "truth," "noble," or "noble type." Also from the Irish name, Iseult. Variations include Allison, Allyson, Alysson, Alyson, and Alisson with nicknames Allie, Ali, and Ally, and Aly and Alli. It also has separate roots as a family name, in which case when used as a given name is traditionally masculine, and is of disputed meaning.

The name is first recorded in Scotland in the 12th century. It was popular until the early 19th century and, spelled Allison, was the 45th most common name given to baby girls in the United States in 2005 (Allyson was #253; Alison, #259; Alyson, #468; Allie, #256; Ally, #656; and Alice, #414). In 1990 in the United States, Allison was the 228th most popular name for women of all ages; Alison was #347, Allyson, #775; Alyson, #981; Allie, #764; Ali, #2434; and Alice, #51. Alison in any spelling didn't enter the top 100 baby names in 2005 in England and Wales, but Alice did come in at #44.

Allison last entered the top 1000 baby names for males in the United States in the 1920s, when it ranked #851. In the 1910s it ranked #825, and in the first decade of the 20th century, it ranked #941.

"Alison" is the fifth track on Elvis Costello's first album, My Aim Is True, released in 1977. Because "Alison" was recorded before Elvis Costello and the Attractions formed, his backing band was Clover, which included Huey Lewis, (although he was not present for the sessions) who went on to later fame with Huey Lewis and the News. Rolling Stone ranked it #318 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

There has been much debate as to the meaning of the song, a ballad with a gentle, mellow arrangement juxtaposed with dark and bitter lyrics delivered with unmistakable venom. Costello has divulged little on this subject other than to say that it is about "disappointing somebody" and to deny suggestions that the lines "somebody better put out the big light" and "my aim is true" refer to murder. He has also declined to reveal who the song is about, writing in the liner notes for Girls Girls Girls, "Much could be undone by saying more."

The chorus is based on "Ghetto Child" by The Detroit Spinners.

"Alison" was released as a single in the United Kingdom with a B-side of "Welcome to the Working Week" and as two singles in the United States; one with a mono version of the same song on the B-side, the other with "Miracle Man".

Linda Ronstadt recorded a version of "Alison" on her album Living In The USA, in 1978, which sold over 2 million copies. Everything but the Girl recorded an acoustic version on their Covers E.P., which was also included on their album Acoustic. The song also played a role in the movie Get Over It.

Brandon Boyd (the lead singer of Incubus) covered the song for GAP's Favorite Songs album (2005).