Alicia

Meaning & origin

Alicia has been a steady presence in American baby names since at least 1881, the earliest year recorded in the Social Security data. Its peak year came in 1984, when it ranked among the top choices for girls, reflecting the broader popularity of similar lyrical names ending in 'a'. Since then, its usage has been on a gradual decline: the trajectory shows it falling from 1985 onward, and by 2025 its rank had settled at 460, with about 1 in 2,392 newborn girls receiving the name. Geographically, Alicia has been most popular in states with significant Hispanic populations, with New Mexico, Arizona, and Maryland leading. The name's long history and cross-cultural appeal, rooted in Spanish and English traditions, ensure it remains a familiar and well-liked choice, even as trends shift toward fresher or more distinctive names.

Alicia is a Latinized form of the Germanic name Adalhaidis, composed of the elements adal 'noble' and haid 'kind, sort'. It emerged in medieval Spain and England, often used as a variant of Alice. The name gained popularity in the English-speaking world in the 19th century and has remained common, with a notable peak in the 1980s. In the United States, it has been consistently used for girls, with the spelling 'Alicia' standardizing by the early 20th century.