Alice is a feminine given name of Germanic origin, derived from the Old French name Aalis, which was itself derived from the Germanic name Adalheidis. This name is composed of the elements adal, meaning "noble," and hild, meaning "battle." Therefore, Alice means "noble in battle."
The name Alice gained popularity during the Middle Ages in France, where it was often used as a diminutive form of names such as Adelheid or Adelaide. It became particularly popular in England after the Norman Conquest in 1066, when many French names were introduced to the British Isles.
One of the most notable figures associated with the name Alice is Alice Liddell, the inspiration for Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." Born in 1852, she was the daughter of Henry Liddell, the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford. Her friendship with Charles Dodgson (better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll) influenced him to write the story that would become one of the most famous works of children's literature.
Today, Alice remains a popular choice for girls' names in many countries around the world. It has also inspired numerous variants and derived forms, such as Allison, Alyssa, Alessia, and even the unisex name Alec. Despite its historical roots, the name Alice continues to feel fresh and modern, appealing to parents who appreciate its classic yet approachable sound.
Alice is a classic and timeless name that has been given to babies born in the United States for over a century. According to the statistics provided, Alice was most popular in the early to mid-1900s, with peaks of popularity occurring around the years 1925 (12 births), 1928 (9 births), and 1930 (9 births).
Interestingly, despite fluctuations in its popularity over time, Alice has remained a steady choice for parents throughout the decades. Even as recently as 2014 and 2017, there were still five babies named Alice each year, indicating that this name continues to hold appeal for parents today.
While Alice may not have reached the heights of popularity enjoyed by some other classic names like Mary or Elizabeth in the past century, it has nonetheless maintained a consistent presence among newborns in the United States. This can be seen through its recurring appearance in the birth statistics from 1884 up until very recently.
In terms of total births with the name Alice in the United States over this period, there have been a combined total of 194 recorded occurrences. This figure underscores how Alice has remained a recognizable and familiar choice for parents across generations.