Alice is a feminine given name of Germanic origin, derived from the Germanic word "adali" which means "noble". The name was popularized by Lewis Carroll's novel "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", published in 1865. In the story, Alice is a young girl who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantastical world. Despite its association with the novel, the name predates it and has been used throughout history. Notable people named Alice include the English princess Alice of Battenberg (1885-1969), the French writer Alice Ferney (born 1950), and the Australian actress Alice Eve (born 1978).
The name Alice has been popular for over a century in the United States, as evidenced by the statistics provided. The name first appeared among the top 1000 names given to girls in 1880 with 1414 births that year. It remained relatively stable until around 1912 when it began to rise significantly, reaching a peak of 10525 births in 1915.
After World War I, the popularity of Alice declined but remained consistent throughout the 1920s and early 1930s. However, during the Great Depression and World War II, its popularity began to decline significantly, dropping from a high of 847 births in 2006 to a low of just 581 births in 2020.
Despite this decline in recent years, Alice has remained relatively popular among parents naming their daughters. According to the Social Security Administration data, as of 2022, there have been a total of 581028 girls named Alice born in the United States since 1879. This demonstrates that while trends may come and go, some names like Alice maintain enduring appeal over time.
In conclusion, the name Alice has had a long and varied history in terms of popularity among American parents. While it once enjoyed tremendous success during the early to mid-20th century, its popularity has since waned but remains steady nonetheless. Overall, Alice's enduring appeal underscores the timelessness of this traditional English name.