Lettice as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Lettice

What is the meaning of the name Lettice ?

The baby name Lettice is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈlɛtɪs/ (LET-iss).

Lettice is English in Origin.

Pronounced LET-iss, Lettice is the medieval English form of the Latin Laetitia, meaning “joy” or “gladness,” transmitted through Anglo-Norman French (Letice/Letitia). The spelling is unrelated to the vegetable despite the visual overlap. Records show the name in England from the 12th century, favored among the gentry and in parish registers well into the Tudor and Stuart eras.

A notable bearer is Lettice Knollys (1543–1634), courtier and countess, which anchors the name in Elizabethan history. Usage declined after the 17th century as the standardized Letitia gained ground, with only occasional antiquarian revivals in the Victorian period; today it remains rare. International cognates include Latin Laetitia, English Letitia, Italian Letizia, Spanish/Portuguese Leticia/Letícia, and French Laetitia/Laëtitia. Pet forms and variants include Lettie/Letty, Lettye, Letis/Letice, and the Letitia-based nicknames Tish and Tisha, all preserving the core sense of cheer and delight.

⚙ Lettice is a rare name. Across 8 countries, we found 28 recorded uses of it.