Ally

Ally is an English and Scottish diminutive form, used for both women and men, that arose as a short form of names beginning with Al-, particularly Alice, Alison, and Alexandra for women, and Alistair or Alexander for men. Alice traces back through Old French to the Germanic name Adalheidis, meaning noble kind or noble type, while Alexander derives from the Greek Alexandros, meaning defender of men. The name has been in common informal use across Britain and beyond for centuries, carried by countless bearers simply known by this affectionate short form. Related forms include Allie, Ali, and Al.