Alys
A girl's name of Welsh origin with 1,332 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
a female given name, equivalent to English Alice
Alys is a girl's baby name of Welsh origin, the Welsh and medieval form of Alice, from the Old High German Adalheidis, meaning 'noble kind' or 'of noble lineage.'
Alys is the form of Alice used in Wales and in medieval romance literature — it appears in the works of Chrétien de Troyes and other Arthurian poets. It's also the spelling chosen by readers who love Alice but want something more unusual — the Welsh form gives it an immediate Celtic distinction while the meaning and sound remain perfectly familiar. Pure, two-syllable, complete.
EtymologyShow more
Alys is cataloged under the Welsh naming tradition. Celtic names carry the echoes of ancient insular traditions, often drawing from nature, warfare, and mythology.
In the U.S., Alys has been recorded as a girl's name since 1880, with 1,332 total births. Browse the Welsh names hub on this site to explore the broader family.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Alys climbed 4789 spots in the last 20 years — from #9934 to #5145.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 99 | #6480 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 133 | #8799 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 84 | #10967 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 62 | #10705 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 82 | #7075 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 65 | #6564 | — |
| 1960s | 70 | #5532 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 90 | #4222 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 83 | #3489 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 98 | #2631 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 199 | #2043 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 170 | #1723 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 60 | #1489 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 26 | #1329 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 11 | #990 | — |
The Story of Alys
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1920, Alys is a name steeped in history. Girls named Alys are most likely born between 1910 and 1930.
How rare is Alys?
Only about 1 in every 144,000 babies born in 2024 was named Alys — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 199 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Alys by the numbers
- Would fill 28 school buses
- Meeting one Alys per day would take 3.6 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(119 years, 1880–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 25 | #5145 |
| 2023 | 29 | #4662 |
| 2022 | 14 | #7650 |
| 2021 | 20 | #5965 |
| 2020 | 11 | #8978 |
| 2019 | 9 | #10533 |
| 2018 | 14 | #7782 |
| 2017 | 17 | #6822 |
| 2016 | 7 | #12974 |
| 2015 | 16 | #7291 |
| 2014 | 15 | #7668 |
| 2013 | 9 | #11071 |
| 2012 | 18 | #6887 |
| 2011 | 17 | #7133 |
| 2010 | 11 | #9827 |
| 2009 | 9 | #11512 |
| 2008 | 9 | #11659 |
| 2007 | 9 | #11680 |
| 2006 | 7 | #13683 |
| 2005 | 14 | #7919 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alys a boy's or girl's name?
When was Alys most popular?
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Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2024