What does Adeline mean?
A French elaboration of Germanic adal, “noble.”
What does Amelia mean?
Amelia comes from the Germanic amal, meaning “work” in the sense of industriousness and striving. It is sometimes blended with the Latin-rooted Emilia.
Adeline vs Amelia
Which is more popular?
Amelia is more popular than Adeline today: about 12,699 US babies were given the name Amelia in 2025, compared with 3,864 named Adeline.
| Adeline | Amelia | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Noble | Industrious, striving |
| Origin | Germanic | Germanic |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | AD-uh-line | uh-MEEL-yuh |
| Syllables | 3 | 4 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2016 (4,120) | 2021 (13,041) |
| In 2025 | 3,864 | 12,699 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Adeline
Amelia
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Adeline | Amelia |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 19,006 | 76,108 |
| 2010s | 23,383 | 93,850 |
| 2000s | 5,719 | 33,292 |
| 1990s | 1,180 | 13,559 |
| 1980s | 493 | 9,740 |
| 1970s | 348 | 5,321 |
| 1960s | 532 | 4,824 |
| 1950s | 905 | 5,189 |
| 1940s | 1,619 | 5,324 |
| 1930s | 3,450 | 5,958 |
| 1920s | 9,917 | 8,787 |
| 1910s | 8,985 | 8,832 |
| 1900s | 2,646 | 3,664 |
| 1890s | 1,697 | 3,725 |
| 1880s | 932 | 2,957 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Adeline or Amelia more popular?
Amelia is more popular than Adeline today: about 12,699 US babies were given the name Amelia in 2025, compared with 3,864 named Adeline.
What is the difference between Adeline and Amelia?
Adeline means Noble (Germanic origin), while Amelia means Industrious, striving (Germanic origin).
Which name is older, Adeline or Amelia?
In US records, Adeline first appears in 1880 and Amelia in 1880, so Adeline has the longer recorded history.