Adelaide is a unique and elegant name of Germanic origin, derived from the elements "adal" meaning noble, and "heid" which signifies home or kind. Thus, Adelaide means "noble home" or "noble nobility," reflecting its high-ranking status in history.
The name Adelaide first emerged during the Middle Ages, popularized by members of European royalty. One notable example is Saint Adelaide of Italy (931-999), who was a queen consort of Germany and later became a saint after her death. Her influence helped to propagate the use of this name among the nobility.
In France, Adelaide was used as a given name, while in England, it appeared mostly as a surname until the 18th century when it began to be used as a first name again. Today, Adelaide is still considered an uncommon yet sophisticated choice for a girl's name, often preferred by parents who wish to give their child a distinctive and historically significant moniker.
Some variants of the name Adelaide include Adeline, Adelina, and even Adalheidis in some regions. It has also inspired numerous related names like Adalbert, Adalind, and Adalric. Despite its rich history and elegant sound, Adelaide remains relatively uncommon, allowing it to retain an air of exclusivity and uniqueness for those who choose to bear this regal name.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Adalaide has seen varied popularity over the years in the United States, with a total of 375 babies born with this name since 1917.
The earliest recorded births were in 1917 and 1922, with five and six occurrences respectively. After a gap, the name resurfaced in 2001 with another five births. This trend continued intermittently until 2006 when eight babies were named Adalaide.
From 2008 onwards, there was a notable increase in popularity for this name. In that year alone, there were 16 births. The years following saw consistent growth:
* 2009: 13 births
* 2010: 15 births
* 2011: 14 births
* 2012: a significant spike with 21 births
The trend continued to fluctuate but remained relatively high until recently. From 2014 to 2023, the number of babies named Adalaide has ranged from 18 to 29 each year.
This data suggests that while Adalaide may not have been a highly popular name throughout its history in the U.S., it has experienced periods of notable usage, particularly since around the year 2006. The most recent years (2022 and 2023) show a consistent level of popularity for this name.