Adelaide means noble kind — from the Germanic Adalheidis, the same root that gives us Alice, Ada, and Adeline. Queen Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen married King William IV, and Australia's most elegant city was named in her honour. The name carries a thousand years of European royalty through four syllables that sound like a waltz. Guys and Dolls gave it an irresistible Broadway song.
Adelaide comes from the Germanic Adalheidis, meaning noble kind. It's the grandmother name of the entire Adal- family (Alice, Ada, Adeline, Adalyn). Queen Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen (1792–1849) married William IV and became Queen consort of the United Kingdom. The city of Adelaide, South Australia was named for her in 1836 and is considered one of Australia's most liveable and culturally rich cities. Guys and Dolls (1950) features Miss Adelaide, whose hypochondriac musical number Adelaide's Lament is one of Broadway's greatest comic songs.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Medieval Europe — multiple queens and saints; Queen Adelaide (1792–1849) gave her name to the Australian city.
3
Today
Adelaide remains a beloved choice, ranking #278 in the US. 33,938 babies have been named Adelaide since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, Britannica, SSA data
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How popular is Adelaide?
2016peak year
Adelaide appears in U.S. registration data going all the way back to 1880, when records begin. Its popularity climbed over the following decades. In 2016, 1,240 babies received the name (ranked #255). Today it sits around #278, with roughly 1,146 babies named Adelaide each year. Adelaide's usage has held roughly steady recently. In total, around 33,938 babies have been registered with this name since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
1,240 Babies named in peak year (ranked #255)
1,146Avg. per year (last decade)
11,460Total registrations last 10 years
33,938All-time total (since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #278)Very popular
Adelaide's Life Path 1 is the leader's number — the original noble name from which all the others descend. People named Adelaide tend to be dignified, warm, and natural leaders who set the standard for their family.
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