A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Adelia since 1880
Babies named Adelia per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2017, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Adelia's real moment was 1884.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 303 |
| 1890s | 384 |
| 1900s | 373 |
| 1910s | 606 |
| 1920s | 638 |
| 1930s | 374 |
| 1940s | 360 |
| 1950s | 263 |
| 1960s | 204 |
| 1970s | 164 |
| 1980s | 176 |
| 1990s | 189 |
| 2000s | 400 |
| 2010s | 785 |
| 2020s | 498 |
Meaning & origin
Adelia is a delicate Latinate name that has been in sporadic use in the United States since at least 1880, when it first appeared in Social Security records. It reached its peak popularity in 1884, when it ranked 2,117th and was given to about 1 in 18,264 newborn girls that year. After a long period of decline, the name began a steady rise again in 1993, reflecting a modern revival of vintage names. Its top states historically include Washington, Ohio, and California. The name's meaning, 'noble', ties it to a long Germanic tradition, and its soft ending gives it a romantic, Victorian feel.
Adelia is a Latinate form of the Germanic name Adela, which derives from the element adal meaning 'noble'. It emerged in the 19th century as part of the fashion for elaborate feminine names ending in -ia. The name saw modest use in the United States from the 1880s onward.
Where Adelia is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Adelia” around the world
Where Adelia lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
60
babies in 2024
Quebec
25
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Addie, Dee, Delia, Ada
Sibling names for Adelia
Names that share Adelia's style, for a brother or sister.
