What does Ariadne mean?
Ariadne means “most holy” in Greek; she guides Theseus from the labyrinth.
What does Delia mean?
Delia means “of Delos,” the island birthplace of Artemis.
Ariadne vs Delia
Which is more popular?
Delia is more popular than Ariadne today: about 135 US babies were given the name Delia in 2025, compared with 115 named Ariadne.
| Ariadne | Delia | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Most holy | Of Delos |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | ar-ee-AD-nee | DEEL-yah |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1960 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2016 (389) | 1957 (490) |
| In 2025 | 115 | 135 |
| Trend | Rising | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ariadne
Delia
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ariadne | Delia |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,126 | 873 |
| 2010s | 2,589 | 1,973 |
| 2000s | 621 | 2,346 |
| 1990s | 255 | 2,191 |
| 1980s | 100 | 2,213 |
| 1970s | 63 | 2,976 |
| 1960s | 70 | 3,856 |
| 1950s | 0 | 4,589 |
| 1940s | 0 | 3,213 |
| 1930s | 0 | 2,853 |
| 1920s | 0 | 2,829 |
| 1910s | 0 | 2,360 |
| 1900s | 0 | 1,629 |
| 1890s | 0 | 1,871 |
| 1880s | 0 | 1,546 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ariadne or Delia more popular?
Delia is more popular than Ariadne today: about 135 US babies were given the name Delia in 2025, compared with 115 named Ariadne.
What is the difference between Ariadne and Delia?
Ariadne means Most holy (Greek origin), while Delia means Of Delos (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Ariadne or Delia?
In US records, Ariadne first appears in 1960 and Delia in 1880, so Delia has the longer recorded history.