Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Adele
GirlFrench, Germanic· “noble”
- Meaning
- noble
- Origin
- French, Germanic
- Pronunciation
- uh-DEHL
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #751
- US babies 2025
- 362
- Best rank
- #187 (1914)
- Peak year
- 1918
Meaning and origin of Adele
Adele is a French and Germanic name that means “noble”.
Adele is the French form of Adela, from the Germanic adal, noble. Adela, a daughter of William the Conqueror, was the mother of King Stephen of England, and several saints bore the name. Adele was popular in Victorian times and is closely related to Adelaide and Adeline. The British singer known simply as Adele has given the name a fresh, contemporary identity. Adele is short, graceful and quietly elegant. It is usually pronounced uh-DEHL in English, and Della or Addie can serve as nicknames.
Popularity over time
Adele has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 106 different years. Its best national rank was #187 in 1914, and the most babies received it in 1918, when 1,030 were named Adele. In 2025, 362 babies were named Adele, and it ranked #751 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #206 in 1920, #390 in 1950, #1,396 in 1980, #1,827 in 2000, #910 in 2010, and #751 in 2025. Of the 42,362 US girls named Adele since records began, 18% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 6,880 babies. Since 2010, 6,098 more have been named Adele.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Freda, May, Luella, Jeannette, and Cecelia.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Adele ranked highest in New York, New Jersey, and Illinois.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New York | #304 | 55 |
| New Jersey | #405 | 19 |
| Illinois | #417 | 25 |
| Washington | #511 | 13 |
| Florida | #531 | 34 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Adele is usually pronounced uh-DEHL, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with A and ends in “-le”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Adell, Adelle, and Adel.
Middle names for Adele
A few middle names that flow with Adele: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Adele
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Lists that include Adele
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Adele mean?
Adele is a French and Germanic name that means “noble”.
What is the origin of the name Adele?
Adele has French and Germanic roots. Adele is the French form of Adela, from the Germanic adal, noble.
Is Adele a popular name?
Yes. Adele ranked #751 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Adele a boy or girl name?
Adele is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Adele?
Adele is usually pronounced uh-DEHL. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings