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Adelaide

♀ Girl

Pronounced AD-eh-layd /ˈædəleɪd/High

Meaning: Noble natured; of noble kindHigh

In 30 seconds: A majestic Germanic name meaning 'noble natured.' Adelaide has the tiara-and-ballgown glamour of a European queen — and it has been borne by several — while remaining warm and accessible in everyday life.
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Origin HighGermanic, French
MeaningNoble natured; of noble kind
U.S. rank (2025)#289 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births1,062 girls (0.06% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2016
Total births (all-time)≈ 35,000

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201618802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Adelaide is the French and English form of the Old High German name Adalheidis, composed of adal (noble, nobility) and heid (kind, type, nature), giving the meaning 'noble natured' or 'of noble kind.' It was a popular name among medieval German royalty and spread across Europe through dynastic marriages.

Adelaide was the name of the wife of Holy Roman Emperor Otto I and of several medieval queens. Queen Adelaide, consort of William IV of England, was so popular that the Australian city was named for her in 1836. After a mid-20th-century decline, Adelaide has been experiencing one of the most powerful vintage revivals in current naming trends.

Did you know? The city of Adelaide in South Australia was named after Queen Adelaide (1792–1849), consort of King William IV — making it one of the few capital cities in the world named after a queen.
Overall data confidence 95%
Behind the Name — Adelaide — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

AdelaAdeleAdelheidAda

Nicknames

AddieDellaAdaAddie

Famous Bearers

  • ★Queen Adelaide (1792–1849)
    Queen consort of William IV of Great Britain; the city of Adelaide, Australia, was named in her honour.

If you like Adelaide…

Eleanor— French-Germanic medieval royal name in the same vintage revival category
Genevieve— French medieval saint's name with the same grand, multi-syllable vintage elegance
Beatrice— Italian-medieval classic with the same royal-heritage stateliness
Cordelia— literary Shakespearean name with the same noble three-syllable romantic grandeur

Frequently Asked

What does the name Adelaide mean?

Adelaide is a Germanic name meaning 'noble natured,' from Old High German adal (noble) and heid (kind, type).

How do you pronounce Adelaide?

It is said AD-eh-layd /ˈædəleɪd/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Adelaide a boy or girl name?

Adelaide is used almost exclusively as a girls' name.

How popular is Adelaide?

Adelaide entered the U.S. top 200 for girls in the 2010s and continues to climb strongly.