| Adeline | Matilda | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Noble | Battle-mighty |
| Origin | Germanic | germanic |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | AD-uh-line | muh-TIL-duh |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2016 (4,120) | 2025 (838) |
| In 2025 | 3,864 | 838 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Adeline | Matilda |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 19,006 | 4,390 |
| 2010s | 23,383 | 5,241 |
| 2000s | 5,719 | 1,712 |
| 1990s | 1,180 | 486 |
| 1980s | 493 | 359 |
| 1970s | 348 | 620 |
| 1960s | 532 | 983 |
| 1950s | 905 | 1,179 |
| 1940s | 1,619 | 1,284 |
| 1930s | 3,450 | 2,033 |
| 1920s | 9,917 | 5,016 |
| 1910s | 8,985 | 5,293 |
| 1900s | 2,646 | 2,892 |
| 1890s | 1,697 | 3,249 |
| 1880s | 932 | 2,533 |
A French elaboration of Germanic adal, “noble.”
From the Germanic elements 'maht' (might, strength) and 'hild' (battle), giving the sense 'mighty in battle'. Popularized by the 11th-century Queen Matilda, wife of William the Conqueror.
Adeline is more popular than Matilda today: about 3,864 US babies were given the name Adeline in 2025, compared with 838 named Matilda.
Adeline means Noble (Germanic origin), while Matilda means Battle-mighty (germanic origin).
In US records, Adeline first appears in 1880 and Matilda in 1880, so Adeline has the longer recorded history.