A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Alys since 1880
Babies named Alys per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Alys's real moment was 1880.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 11 |
| 1890s | 26 |
| 1900s | 60 |
| 1910s | 170 |
| 1920s | 199 |
| 1930s | 98 |
| 1940s | 83 |
| 1950s | 90 |
| 1960s | 70 |
| 1970s | 65 |
| 1980s | 82 |
| 1990s | 62 |
| 2000s | 84 |
| 2010s | 133 |
| 2020s | 126 |
Meaning & origin
The name Alys has a long history as a medieval variant of Alice, carrying the meaning of nobility. In 2025, it ranked 4,878, with approximately 1 in 60,000 girls receiving the name. Its peak year was 1880, when it first appeared in records. After decades of low usage, it began rising again in 1998 and has maintained that upward trajectory. The name is most popular in Florida, reflecting a revival of vintage names in the South. Alys offers a classic feel with a slightly less common spelling, appealing to parents seeking a name with historical depth without the popularity of its cousin Alice.
Alys is a medieval variant of Alice, itself from Old French Alis, a reduced form of Adelais, from the Germanic Adalhaidis, composed of adal 'noble' and haid 'kind, sort'.
Where Alys is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Alys” around the world
Where Alys lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
15
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Allie, Lys
Sibling names for Alys
Names that share Alys's style, for a brother or sister.
