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Ally

Boy / Girl name · 174 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Ally: 174 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to both boys and girls, peaking at 9 births in 2008.

Ally is most often a Scottish nickname for Alan or Alexander, though it has long been used as a given name in its own right. Alan comes from a Celtic root meaning “little rock,” while Alexander is Greek for “defender of men.” The name is also a familiar short form of Alison, the medieval Norman French diminutive of Alice. One of Scotland’s most famous Allys is footballer and manager Ally McCoist, the country’s second-highest international goal-scorer and a Rangers legend. On screen, actress Ally Sheedy starred in 1980s classics like *The Breakfast Club*. While no major place shares the name directly, the similar-sounding Alloa in Clackmannanshire derives from the Gaelic *allmhagh*, meaning “rocky plain.” Today, Ally remains a friendly, approachable choice, equally at home as a standalone or a nickname