Glenice

Meaning & origin

Glenice is a rare first name that emerged in the early 20th century, first recorded in the United States in 1907. It reached its highest point of use in 1931, a peak year for many short-lived invented feminine names. Since then, its usage has remained stable but extremely low, reflecting its status as a period-specific coinage. The name likely draws on the Scottish word glen, meaning valley, combined with the suffix -ice, reminiscent of other feminine names like Janice. No states recorded notable concentrations of Glenice births, indicating its scattered, occasional appearance across the country. Today, Glenice is seldom chosen for newborns, making it a distinctive and vintage choice for those seeking an uncommon name from the 1930s era.

Glenice appears to be an early 20th-century coinage, formed from the Scottish place-name element Glen (valley) and the popular feminine suffix -ice, influenced by names like Janice or Clarice. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1907 and saw modest use in the 1920s and 1930s, peaking in 1931. The name never achieved widespread popularity and has since become rare.