Where does “Alice” come from?

Alice (Old French) comes from Old High German Adalheid, from Old High German adal, from Proto-West Germanic aþal, from Proto-Germanic aþalą, from Proto-Indo-European at-al, from Proto-Indo-European h₂el- — to grow, nourish; beyond, other; to wander, roam.

Ancestry of “Alice”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old High GermanAdalheid—
2Old High Germanadalnoble; nobility; noble race
3Proto-West Germanicaþalnobility; race
4Proto-Germanicaþaląnature, disposition; nobility, race
5Proto-Indo-Europeanat-alfamily, race
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂el-to grow, nourish; beyond, other; to wander, roam
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂el- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European at-al →Every word from Proto-Germanic aþalą →
Alice — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer