Alyss is of English origin, derived from the Old English name Ælfgyth, which is composed of two elements: ælf, meaning 'elf', and gyth, meaning 'combat'. It was brought to England by the Normans in the form of Aalis, and later evolved into Alyss. This name was particularly popular during the Middle Ages but has since become less common.
The name Alyss appears to have been quite popular between the years 1986 and 1991, with over 75 babies being named Alyss during this period. However, its popularity significantly declined afterwards, with fewer than 15 births per year from 1992 onwards. The name experienced a slight resurgence in recent years, with more than 10 births each in 2021 and 2022. Overall, since 1984, there have been a total of 406 babies named Alyss.