Adelaide
Adelaide is a girls' name of German origin meaning “noble, of noble kind.” It ranked #289 in the United States in 2025.
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how do you pronounce Adelaide?
AD-eh-layd
where does the name Adelaide come from?
From the Old High German Adalheidis, combining adal, meaning noble, with heid, meaning kind, sort or quality. The sense is not merely noble but of noble character — a statement about disposition rather than birth. French smoothed it to Adélaïde, which is the form English borrowed.
A classic name of Germanic origin, Adelaide was the name of a 10th-century Holy Roman Empress who was later canonized as a saint. The city of Adelaide in Australia was named after Queen Adelaide, consort of King William IV.
how popular is this name?
Adelaide has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 89 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 57. It peaked at #179 in 1883, and ranked #289 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #289 |
| 2024 | #271 |
| 2023 | #286 |
| 2022 | #282 |
| 2021 | #261 |
| 2020 | #272 |
| 2019 | #304 |
| 2018 | #297 |
| 2017 | #277 |
| 2016 | #255 |
| 2010 | #434 |
| 1940 | #660 |
| 1930 | #465 |
| 1920 | #299 |
| 1910 | #270 |
| 1900 | #233 |
| 1890 | #242 |
| 1883 | #179 |
| 1880 | #186 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Adelaide fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Adelaide
St Adelaide, who lived from about 931 to 999, was Holy Roman Empress and one of the most powerful women in tenth-century Europe, ruling as regent for her grandson. Much later, Queen Adelaide, consort of William IV, gave her name to the city of Adelaide in South Australia when it was founded in 1836.
what are the nicknames and variants of Adelaide?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Adelaide?
- Queen Adelaide (consort of William IV)
- Adelaide Kane (actress)
- Saint Adelaide of Italy
what names are similar to Adelaide?
what names go well with Adelaide?
Sibling names that share Adelaide's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Adelaide
What does the name Adelaide mean?
Adelaide means “noble, of noble kind”.
What is the origin of the name Adelaide?
Adelaide comes from the German naming tradition. Related forms include Adelheid, Adelaida, Adela and Alice.
How popular is the name Adelaide?
Adelaide ranked #289 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1883, at #179, and it has spent 89 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Adelaide a boy or girl name?
Adelaide is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Adelaide?
Adelaide is pronounced AD-eh-layd, with 3 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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