I've just been thinking of the name, mostly due to authors.
Alice Hoffman &
Alice Walker come to mind. And
Alice B. Toklas was pretty kick-ass, too.
At the same time...I don't like it. I, too, find it simpering - even though
Alice Hoffman &
Alice Walker are not. I read
Alice B. Toklas' cookbook and I fell in love with her - she was feisty and hilarious - but again, it's not enough to make me like the name.
Alys, though, I love. That brings to mind a strong, Medieval woman - but it's one that I would never use. It's too bad it would be seen as a kreativ spelling of
Alice and not a name in its own right.