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Zadie

♀ Girl

Pronounced ZAY-dee /ˈseɪ.di/High

Meaning: Lady, princess, noblewomanMedium

In 30 seconds: Zadie is an English name meaning 'lady, princess, noblewoman'. The -ie ending gives this noble sense a soft, affectionate sound.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningLady, princess, noblewoman
U.S. rank (2024)#1759 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births115 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2016
Total births (all-time)≈ 3,530

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201618812024

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

History & Origin

Zadie means 'lady, princess, noblewoman', a sense it shares with the Sarah family to which it is linked. It sits among related forms like Sara, Sarah, and the pet names Sallie and Sally. The princely meaning gives it a quiet dignity beneath its friendly sound.

The bright z opening and gentle -ie close give Zadie a modern, approachable feel. Novelist Zadie Smith has made this spelling widely recognized.

Did you know? Zadie is a spelling variant of Sadie, so it keeps the same core meaning of 'lady, princess, noblewoman' while changing the visual style.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Zadie — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

SallieSallySarinaSaraSarah

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Zadie Smith (1975–present)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Zadie…

Sadie— A close-sounding name from the same Sarah family with the noblewoman meaning.
Sarah— The fuller name carrying the same 'lady, princess' root, listed in Zadie's variations.
Sara— A spelling of the same Sarah name in Zadie's variation list.
Sally— Another affectionate Sarah-family form sharing Zadie's noble root.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Zadie mean?

Zadie is usually explained as meaning 'lady, princess, noblewoman' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Zadie?

It's commonly said ZAY-dee /ˈseɪ.di/.

Is Zadie a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Zadie is used as a girl name.

How popular is Zadie?

In 2024, Zadie ranked #1759 in the U.S. for girls, with 115 births recorded.