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.
The name Allice experienced fluctuations in popularity over the years, with periods of higher and lower birth counts. The peak years for this name were between 1918 and 1930, with a high of 12 births in 1925. However, it seems that the name's popularity has declined significantly since then, with only five births each in recent years like 2014 and 2017. Overall, there were a total of 194 babies named Allice over this span of time.