Ally

The name Ally is a diminutive form of the names Alison or Alice, which are derived from the German name Adelaide. The name Adelaide is composed of the Germanic elements 'adal' meaning 'noble' and 'haidis' meaning 'kind' or 'heathy'.

The name Adelaide was popular in medieval Germany and France, and it later spread to other parts of Europe and the English-speaking world. The shortened forms Alison and Alice emerged as English variants of the name.

Ally is a modern diminutive form of these names, particularly popular in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. It has a more casual and friendly feel than the longer forms, while still retaining the underlying meaning of 'noble kind'.

While Ally is traditionally a feminine name, it has also been used as a unisex or gender-neutral name in some contexts, particularly in recent years.