'Alicante' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'Al-Laqant,' where 'Al-' meant 'the' and 'Laqant' referred to the ancient city name.

'Al-Laqant' transformed into the Spanish word 'Alicante,' and eventually became the modern English name 'Alicante.'

Initially, it referred to the city itself, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.