Alyssa

Alyssa is typically accepted as a variant of Alicia, which is a modern Latinate form of Alice. Alice is an English off-shoot of the ancient Germanic female name Adalheidis, composed of the words “adal” meaning “noble” and “heid” meaning “kind, type”. From this perspective, Alyssa is said to mean “the noble one”. However, the name Alyssa may have been inspired by the alyssum flower of the mustard plant family found in the Mediterranean (among other places); “alyssum” comes from the Greek root “-a” (meaning “not, against”) and “lyssa” (meaning “madness, rage, insanity”) because in ancient times the plant was believed to cure madness. “Alyssos” (αλύσσο) essentially meaning “curing madness” and was used to treat people bitten by rabid animals. The low-growing white and yellow flowers (some pink/purple) are said to symbolize “worth beyond beauty” and the sweet smell of alyssum is believed to restore emotional balance. As a female given name, Alyssa was first made popular in the United States in the 1970s and 80s but has since spread to other English-speaking countries. While the name is still most popular in America, Alyssa also shows up on the Top 100 lists of baby girl names in Australia, Canada and Scotland.