The name Alceste comes from Alcestis and is pronounced “AHLkeestee.” Its origin is in Greek mythology.
Here’s the story behind the name as told by the mythographer Thomas Bulfinch:
“AEsculapius, the son of Apollo, was endowed by his father with such skill in the healing art that he even restored the dead to life. This so alarmed Pluto (Hades) that he prevailed on Jupiter to strike AEsculapius down with a thunderbolt. Apollo, indignant at the death of his son, wreaked his vengeance on the Cyclopses—workmen of the thunderbolt—who were punished by Jupiter. As a result, Apollo was condemned to serve a mortal for one year.
Apollo entered the service of Admetus, king of Thessaly. Admetus won the hand of Alcestis, daughter of Pelias, by fulfilling the condition of retrieving her in a chariot drawn by lions and boars. Later, when Admetus was fated to die, Apollo persuaded the Fates to spare him if someone would die in his place. Alcestis selflessly offered herself, fulfilling the condition.
As Alcestis lay dying to save her husband, Hercules arrived at Admetus’s palace. Seeing the grief of all, Hercules confronted Death at the entrance to the queen’s chamber. He seized Death and forced him to release Alcestis. Thus Alcestis was restored to life and reunited with Admetus.”
This ancient story brings to mind a passage from Romans 5:7-8: “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man… But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”