Home › Baby Names Directory › Adeline

Adeline

♀ Girl

Pronounced AD-uh-line /ˈæd.ə.laɪn/High

Meaning: Noble; of noble kind; French diminutive of AdelaHigh

In 30 seconds: A romantic French diminutive of Adela meaning 'noble,' Adeline has floated back into fashion as a delicate vintage charmer with three graceful syllables.
💕 Browse more names
Origin HighOld High German, French
MeaningNoble; of noble kind; French diminutive of Adela
Peak year2016
Total births (all-time)≈ 55,176

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201618802017

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

History & Origin

Adeline is a French diminutive of Adela, itself from the Old High German adal meaning 'noble.' The name was common in medieval France and England and was brought to Britain by the Normans.

After a long period of obscurity Adeline has staged a major comeback in the 21st century, entering the U.S. top 100 girls' names as parents seek vintage names with elegant French flair.

Did you know? The beloved parlor song Sweet Adeline (You're the Flower of My Heart), published in 1903, kept the name in American cultural memory for decades.

Variations

AdalineAdalynAdelaideAdela

Nicknames

AddieAdaLina

Famous Bearers

  • ★Adeline Virginia Woolf (1882–1941)
    British modernist author and essayist, known as Virginia Woolf.

If you like Adeline…

Alice— Old French noble name with the same gentle Victorian charm
Eleanor— vintage three-syllable classic with the same elegant French pedigree
Josephine— another long French vintage name with regal warmth

Frequently Asked

What does the name Adeline mean?

Adeline is a French diminutive of Adela, from the Old High German adal, meaning 'noble' or 'of noble kind.'

How do you pronounce Adeline?

It is said AD-uh-line /ˈæd.ə.laɪn/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Adeline a boy or girl name?

Adeline is exclusively a girl's name.

How popular is Adeline?

Adeline has been climbing steadily in the U.S. and is now among the top 100 girls' names, driven by the vintage-name revival.