Alecia Beth Moore was born in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, to Judith Moore (née Kugel), a nurse, and James Moore Jr., a Vietnam War veteran. Her diverse heritage (Irish, German, Jewish, and Lithuanian) and her parents' professions likely influenced her open-mindedness and willingness to challenge norms. Her father played guitar and sang songs for her as a child, which greatly impacted her love for music. She experienced childhood asthma, impacting her health early on.

During her teenage years, Alecia began performing in Philadelphia clubs. She wrote lyrics as a form of emotional expression. At age 14, she joined her first band, a short-lived group called 'Schools of Thought.' Later, she joined another group, 'Choice,' which signed with LaFace Records. Although 'Choice' didn't achieve mainstream success, it provided P!nk with early industry experience and exposure.