Names Inspired by Alice

Alice has been in consistent English use since the Middle Ages. It had a slight decline before becoming a Victorian hit in both England and the United States. The name then declined in popularity for several decades before returning to the American top 100 in 2014.

Alice has a lot going for it. As a revival name that never went away completely, it is both timeless and vintage. The name also has storybook charm via Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Personality wise, Alice strikes a balance between the formal and casual. 

This list will feature names with similar qualities, all ranking below the top 100. It will appeal to parents who think Alice is too plain or popular or want to name her sister. Name lovers will also enjoy this list. 

Here are some less-popular alternatives to Alice:

Adele

Alice developed as a short form of Adelaide. Fellow classic Adele had the same story. 

Agnes

Agnes is not a classic, but it has been around as long as Alice and has a similar sound. Especially if shortened to Aggie, the name mixes sweetness with its formality. 

Alma

Another vintage name from the nineteenth century starting with "Al," Alma has a similar mix of sweetness and sophistication.

Annie

Sweet Annie brings to mind a titular orphan from the famous musical along with timeless charm. 

Beatrice

Beatrice, which associates itself with Dante's wife and a character in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, is another classic making a comeback in the United States.

Belle

Belle's association with Beauty and the Beast (especially Disney's versions) make this vintage charmer go hand-in-hand with Alice's Wonderland charm. 

Celia

Timeless Celia has a sweet and soft sound but also a serious touch, especially when associated with Cuban singer Celia Cruz (1915-2003). It also rearranges Alice's letters. 

Constance

Constance is a neglected classic virtue that mixes sweetness and strength.

Dorothy

As Alice is to Alice in Wonderland, this classic connects to Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz. 

Edith

Edith is both formal and cute when used in full. Nickname Edie only adds to its cuteness. It also has literary connections via writer Edith Wharton and poet Edith Sitwell. 

Elise

Timeless and ageless Elise has artistic credentials via Beethoven's masterpiece, "Für Elise."

Flora

This vintage flower-inspired name can fit both a casual child and a professional worker. 

Frances

Frances nearly sounds like Alice alongside having the same ending sound. It is a classic from a century ago that has yet to come back. It also connects to Frances the Badger of children's literature fame. 

Goldie

Vintage nickname-name Goldie has connections to the golden-haired girl from the English fairy tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears. 

Helen

Helen is just as nickname-proof and timeless as Alice, but a bit more formal. It is also much less popular today than it was a century ago, making it due for revival. 

Ida

Ida is a namesake-heavy vintage name that sounds both sweet and serious. 

Irene

This timeless gem can suit girls of all ages and personalities, from the ones who constantly dress up to those who spend more time playing. 

Jane

Jane may sound a bit plain to be an Alice substitute, but it matches in timelessness and personality. 

Lois

Biblical Lois has a little sweetness along with Alice's ending sound. 

Louise

French classic Louise has an ending that sounds similar but different from Alice's.

Marie

The French form of Mary is just as timeless as Alice, but has been uncommon for decades. 

Martha

Martha has Alice's mix of enduring usage and old-fashioned charm. 

Matilda

Vintage Matilda connects to a Roald Dahl protagonist, making it sound both child-friendly and professional.

Mavis

This vintage gem sounds almost completely serious, but its "Mae" sound makes it sweeter. 

Pearl

Vintage and ladylike Pearl has a sweet touch, especially when thinking of the gemstone as a "precious treasure."

Rosemary

Rosemary is an old-fashioned name that sounds a little buttoned-up but also sweet. 

Sybil

Sybil is more on the serious side, but it matches Alice with a similar structure and old-fashioned sound.

Viola

The name of a musical instrument and a major character in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, vintage Viola has plenty of artistic heritage. It sounds sweet and serious at once, too. 

Willa

Willa is a vintage feminization of William associating itself with early twentieth-century writer Willa Cather (1873-1947). 

Zora

Zora is a serious and sweet vintage literary name worn by writer Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960).

Which of these alternatives are your favorites? What names would you add?