Letice as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Letice

What is the meaning of the name Letice ?

The baby name Letice is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /ləˈtiːs/ (luh-TEE-s) or /ˈlɛtɪs/ (LET-iss).

Letice is Latin in Origin.

Letice is a rare English variant of Letitia/Leticia, ultimately from Latin Laetitia, meaning “joy” or “gladness.” Spelled Letice or Lettice in medieval and early modern records, the name reflects the Middle English adaptation of a popular Latin virtue-name. Traditional English pronunciation for the Lettice/Letice spelling is LET-iss (like “lettuce”), though modern speakers may also say leh-TEES.

Use is well attested in parish registers from the 12th–17th centuries and among Tudor gentry - compare the famed noblewoman Lettice Knollys - before fading in the 18th century. The form Letice surfaces occasionally in 19th-century revivals and today feels vintage and rare. Related forms include Letitia (standard English), Leticia (Spanish), Laetitia (Latin/French), Letizia (Italian), and Letícia (Portuguese). Diminutives and short forms include Lettie, Leti/Letty, Leta, Tish/Tisha, and Ticia. The enduring sense across languages remains “delight, happiness.”