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Alicja — Name Day, Meaning & Origin

Female Polish given name · 3131 births in 2024 (rank 9)

An elegant Polish female name of Germanic roots meaning "noble".

Pronunciation

/a.ˈli.t͡sja/ · ah-LEET-syah

Meaning

Alicja is the Polish form of Alice, ultimately derived from the Germanic name Adelaide. Its original sense is connected with the word for "noble", so the name is often interpreted as "of noble birth" or "of noble nature".

Origin & history

The name reached Poland by way of Western Europe, where the medieval French form Aalis shortened the older Adelaide. Made popular in culture partly through literature, it became firmly established in Polish and today ranks among the most frequently chosen names for girls. Its bearers celebrate name days in honour of several saints named Alice.

Etymology

The root is the Germanic adal (aþal), meaning "noble", also present in the name Adelaide. The form Alicja arose through French and Latin mediation from a medieval shortening of that name.

Declension (Polish cases)

NominativeAlicja
GenitiveAlicji
DativeAlicji
AccusativeAlicję
InstrumentalAlicją
LocativeAlicji
VocativeAlicjo

Name day (imieniny)

In Poland, Alicja celebrates its name day on 21 June.

Diminutives

Ala, Alka, Alicjka, Alusia, Alunia.

Forms in other languages

Equivalents in other languages include Alice (English, French, German, Italian), Alicia (Spanish, English), Alícia (Catalan, Portuguese) and Alisa (Russian).

Notable people named Alicja

Alicja Bachleda-Curuś — Polish actress and singer known for film and theatre roles.
Alicja Majewska — Popular Polish pop vocalist, a stage star since the 1970s.
Alicja Tysiąc — Polish woman whose case before the European Court of Human Rights drew wide attention.

Popularity

Alicja has for years stayed near the very top of the most popular names given to baby girls in Poland.

Similar names

Maja Zofia Zuzanna Laura Hanna Julia Oliwia Pola