Alice
Alice comes from the Old French "Aalis," a short form of the Germanic "Adalheidis" (adal = noble, heid = kind). The name arrived in England with the Norman Conquest and became one of the most popular medieval women's names. By the 13th century, it was the most common female name in England after Matilda. Then came Lewis Carroll. "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" (1865) transformed the name forever. Alice Liddell, the real girl who inspired the story, was the daughter of Carroll's dean at Christ Church, Oxford. Carroll's Alice — curious, polite, mildly exasperated — became one of the most recognizable characters in world literature. The name has been tinged with Wonderland ever since. Alice was in the US top 10 from 1880 to 1920, then declined steeply. It came back in the 2010s as part of the vintage revival and is now in the top 100 in both the US and UK. What I love about Alice is its sound: the initial "A," the soft "l," the hissing "s" at the end. It sounds both curious and composed, which fits its fictional namesake perfectly. Alice is a female name of Germanic origin that means "Noble (from Adalheidis)". Curious, composed, and quietly brave. The name sounds like someone who follows the white rabbit. Alices are often more adventurous than they look. US top 100 since 2014. UK top 50. Well-known people named Alice include Alice Liddell (Carroll's inspiration), Alice Walker (author), Alice Munro (Nobel laureate), Alice Cooper (musician, male). Common variations and related forms of Alice include Alicia (Spanish), Alyssa (related), Alison (medieval diminutive), Alizée (French).