The most famous bearer is a fictional girl who went chasing rabbits, but today she’s being given to more and more real girls, too.
Thanks to Nessa for suggesting our Name of the Day: Alice.
Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland was published in 1865. At the time, Alice was well established – in fact, the girl who inspired Carroll’s stories was named Alice Liddell. Queen Victoria called her third child, born in 1843, Alice Maud Mary. Legend has it that Lord Melbourne, mentor and eventually prime minister to the queen, suggested the appellation. It had been in use among aristocratic families dating back to the Middle Ages, when it was worn by royals in Cyprus and Antioch.
Alice was also the name of Teddy Roosevelt’s wife and firstborn daughter. The name was a Top Ten sensation in the nineteenth century, and remained in the US Top 25 into the 1930s.
But for the past several decades, Alice has been eclipsed by related names – the tailored Allison, the romantic Alyssa and Alicia and even the cutesy Allie all sounded more current into the 1990s.
After all, modern parents grew up with two Alices on television: the housekeeper on The Brady Bunch and the diner waitress in Alice. There was also Arlo Guthrie’s 1967 song “Alice’s Restaurant” and, in the 1970s, the theatrical rock star Alice Cooper. The last Alice was born Vincent, and admits that he chose his stage name because it sounded so sweet and innocent.
Everything old is new again and innocent Alice is starting to sound positively fresh. Comedienne Tina Fey chose Alice Zenobia for her daughter. And after many years ranking in the 400s, Alice had climbed to #346 by 2007. In the UK, she’s in the Top 50.
Alice, Alicia, Alyssa, Allison and Allie all trace back to the Germanic Adalheid, a combination of elements meaning noble type or noble rank. In Medieval Europe, you might have met an Adelaide – like the 10th century saint, an Aleydis or Alix - both names for a thirteenth century saint or an Alys or Alaïs - a twelfth century French princess. Other languages favored Aliz, Ailis and Adelaida. Unusual nicknames include Elke, Heidi and Aleit.
A number of creative and talented women have worn the name in recent years. Actress Ali McGraw is an Alice; silent film star and Oscar winner Alice Brady started out life as Mary Rose. Writers include Alice Munro, Alice Sebold, Alice Walker and Alice Hoffman.
Today, Alice also emerges as a Disney name. The 1951 animated feature remains popular with children the world over, as are the Mad Hatter’s spinning teacups, an attraction at all five of the Disney theme parks. While Belle and Jasmine are fading, Alice is one heroine from a children’s tale that feels current.
If you’re looking for an easily recognized moniker with plenty of history, Alice should appeal. The literary and Disney associations are a nice touch, but this one would still feel both gentle and strong without the fictional character. She could be an appealing substitute for Emma or Abigail – and, of course, she could prove just as popular in a few years.
Alice is a nice enough name… if only I could get the picture of the disney version of Alice from popping into my head the moment I hear the name… But it is a good name and does sound less frilly to me than Alyssa or Alicia.
Funny, If Arlo Guthrie hadn’t popularised “Alice’s Resturant” in 1967, I would be Alice, instead of Laura/Lola! It’s what turned my Pop off the name, much to my mother’s dismay. So I’ve had a soft spot for Alice forever and am looking at incorporating it into this last child’s name, should it be a girl. It got bypassed for Josie, because it didn’t fit for either of us, with Josephine. Neither of us find it appealing enough to use up front but in the middle, to honor my thwarted Mom? Yeah.
All those lovely Alice women, definitely make the name a lot more than a Disney name, to me anyway. Alice is lovely, warm, engaging, sweet & very feminine. All in all, a perfect winner of a name!
I really like Alice; it just has this cool/modern feel as well as a tea party vibe.
All the literary connections- from “Alice in Wonderland” to the women Alice writers- give it such a bookish vibe too.
She’s such a sweet thing, is Alice. How many names are as digified yet comfortable, old school yet totally wearable as she is? For me, she performs a great balancing act – having just the right mixture of femininity and familiarity ie. quite enough but not too much of either.
I wasn’t aware that she might be on the rise as her usage in the UK is fairly set around the #50 mark. But, now that you bring it to my attention, it does make sense and I can definately see the parent of an Emma, Ava, Grace or Sophia considering her (as examples).
I absolutely adore her quiet, charmingly bookish, unpretentious simplicity and like Lola, would definately consider her as middle name material, maybe even as a first name…
I’m a huge Alice in Wonderland fan (both the book and the Disney movie) — my sister and I can often be found quoting lines to each other. While Alice isn’t in my personal top 10, it’s a name I really like.
Alice has an interesting feel. She’s not very popular at all the U.S. right now, which is a plus for parents who want to pick a name that not everyone else has. Because she was so popular through the 30′s, though, and was well-known from TV after that, she has the possibility to sound a bit dated to some people (or cute and retro, depending on who you ask). However, she’s also a classic from Victorian times and before, which keeps her from sounding too dated (and makes her feel like she could be ready for a comeback).
She fits both with Victorian names like Charlotte, Cora, Eleanor, and Louisa but also with “retro” names like Betty, Dorothy, Virginia, and Hazel.
Lola, that’s funny! I know lots of people who have been named after songs – mostly girls called Michelle – but you’re the first I’ve heard to be NOT named after a song.
A friend of mine has a sister called Alice. Their parents were new to the US and wanted to give their children American names. (They’re from China.) Alice in Wonderland was one of the few English languages characters they knew, so their daughter became Alice. I’ve always loved that story – and quite like the name!
I think Alice is going to rise, at least in the US. As you say, Emmy Jo, she just fits in so well. And if Alice ever feels that her name is too dated, there’s always the easy nickname Ali, which fits right in with trendier girls’ names.
I think Alice is quite charming, would not be surprised if it gets more popular. Classic, stylish, retro, feminine and goes well with more popular names of that type. I do like the names Alicia and Alison. Alais, Alys, Alix.. those sound interesting.
My sister and I – like you, Emmy Jo – grew up pretty much obsessed with Alice in Wonderland & Through the Looking glass and all of that, so she’s been one of my favorites for years! I love her rather subtle contrasts of entirely grounded, bouyancy, class, kindness and zest all into one little name!
My parents considered it for me too… but they were set on having my mn as Anais – could you imagine: Alice Anais?? Waaay too confusing! And it’s funny with the associated names: Aleydis, Alais, Alix & Heidi are all family names for me!
Pingback: Sunday Summary: 1/23/10 « Appellation Mountain
What about Chaucer’s Alisoun? Is there a relation to that name?
Maybe. Alison is part of the Alice/Adela/Adelaide cluster, all of which were common in different forms at different points in the Middle Ages. Alison appears to be a diminutive form of Alice, common(ish) among the Normans. (I say ish because I haven’t found any statistics.)
But if you flip through this Chaucer Name Dictionary: http://www.columbia.edu/dlc/garland/deweever/menu.htm, it suggests that it might be related to aleison, from the mass. I’m assuming that’s Kyrie Eleison – Lord, have mercy.
It also suggests a second origin, from an Old French name meaning “delight.” I can’t find anything else to suggest that’s true, but I’m not a Chaucer scholar.
The funny thing about Alison is the -son ending. Other female Norman diminutives from the same era exist, but they tend to be be -ot/-ote/-ota and -in/-ine/-ina. There’s nothing saying an unusual form couldn’t be out there, but the idea that the spelling was altered because of similarity with another word seems plausible.
Pingback: Baby Name of the Day: Aleydis | Appellation Mountain
My daughter’s name is Alice Juliet. She is three years old, and as spunky as she can be. My family was appalled when they heard her name when she was born, because the trendy names reign in my area. Luckily it has grown on everyone.
Oooh … Alice Juliet is a gorgeous combination! Unexpected, and yet perfectly paired.
Pingback: Baby Name of the Day: Pamela | Appellation Mountain
I like Alice. It’s simple, pretty, and classy without trying too hard to appear so (unlike many surnames used as first names for girls). I would definitely consider Alice as a middle name if I have another daughter.
Pingback: Alphabet: C is for Girls | Appellation Mountain
Pingback: Alice « Chanara’s Blog
Pingback: Baby Name of the Day: Calyx | Appellation Mountain
Pingback: Baby Name of the Day: Glynis | Appellation Mountain
Pingback: Sunday Summary: 5/29/11 | Appellation Mountain
Pingback: Baby Name of the Day: Kipling | Appellation Mountain
Pingback: Baby Name of the Day: Mila | Appellation Mountain
Pingback: Sunday Summary: 6/12/11 | Appellation Mountain
Pingback: Baby Name of the Day: Polly | Appellation Mountain
Pingback: Baby Name of the Day: Heather | Appellation Mountain
Pingback: Baby Name of the Day: Katniss | Appellation Mountain
Pingback: Baby Name of the Day: Arden | Appellation Mountain
Pingback: Baby Name of the Day: Margot | Appellation Mountain
Pingback: Starbaby News: Welcome Penelope Athena! | Appellation Mountain
Pingback: Sunday Summary: 8/14/11 | Appellation Mountain
Pingback: Baby Name of the Day: Artis | Appellation Mountain
Pingback: Baby Name of the Day: Harpo | Appellation Mountain
Pingback: Baby Name of the Day: Bess | Appellation Mountain
Pingback: Fetching Names: The Hermiones, Part II | Appellation Mountain
Pingback: Fetching Names: Into the Wayback Machine with the Girls’ Top 25 | Appellation Mountain
Pingback: Fetching Names: The Katnisses, Part I | Appellation Mountain