Ally

Ally is chiefly an English and Scottish diminutive form, used for both women and men. As a feminine name, it derives from Alice or Alexandra, both of which trace back ultimately to the Old High German name Adalheidis, meaning noble kind, or to the Ancient Greek Alexandros, meaning defender of men. As a masculine Scottish name, it functions as a pet form of Alasdair, the Scottish Gaelic equivalent of Alexander. Related forms include Allie, Alice, Alison, Alasdair, and Alex.