Alcia
A feminine name derived from the Old English word meaning "elf ruler".
Name Census estimates that about 22 living Americans carry the first name Alcia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Alcia today is around 41 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Alcia births was 1984 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Alcia. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Alcia. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
22
~ 1 in 15,579,743 Americans
Peak year
1984
8 babies that year
Average age
41
years old
1991 SSA rank
#13,201
Tracked since 1972
Popularity
Alcia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Alcia from the 1970s through to the 1990s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 13 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1980s peak, Alcia remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Alcia by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Alcia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Alcia
The name Alcia is of Latin origin and can be traced back to ancient Rome. It is derived from the Latin word "alcius," which means "high" or "lofty." The name was likely given to individuals who were born into noble or aristocratic families, reflecting their elevated social status.
In the early days of Christianity, the name Alcia gained popularity among the Roman aristocracy who converted to the new faith. It is believed that the name was often chosen as a tribute to the virtues of humility and spiritual elevation, which were highly valued in the Christian tradition.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Alcia can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Tacitus, who mentions an Alcia Paulina, a noblewoman who lived during the 1st century AD. Tacitus describes her as a woman of great virtue and integrity, further solidifying the name's association with elevated character.
In the 5th century, Alcia Ferentia was a renowned philosopher and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of rhetoric and logic. Her treatises on the art of persuasion were widely read and studied throughout the ancient world.
During the Middle Ages, the name Alcia appeared in various monastic records and chronicles. One notable figure was Alcia of Aquitaine (1023-1089), a Benedictine abbess who was renowned for her piety and devotion to the poor. Her legacy inspired many other women to take up religious vocations and serve their communities.
In the Renaissance period, the name Alcia gained popularity among the Italian aristocracy. One of the most famous bearers of the name was Alcia Gambara (1470-1548), an Italian poet and scholar who was highly regarded for her literary works and her patronage of the arts.
Another notable figure was Alcia de' Medici (1527-1591), a member of the powerful Medici family of Florence. She was known for her intelligence and political acumen, and played a significant role in the governance of the Medici domains.
While the name Alcia has become less common in modern times, it continues to hold a rich historical legacy, spanning centuries of cultural and intellectual achievements. Its association with nobility, virtue, and scholarly pursuits has endured, making it a name that carries a sense of timeless elegance and distinction.
People
Alcia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Alcia as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Alcia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Alcia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 22 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Alcia going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 15,579,743 US residents.
Is Alcia a common name?
We classify Alcia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 41.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 23 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Alcia most popular?
The single biggest year for Alcia was 1984, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Alcia is about 41 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Alcia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Alcia in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.