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Adeline

Girl name · 90 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Adeline: 90 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 12 births in 2021.

Of French origin, Adeline is a diminutive of Adèle, which itself comes from the Germanic element *adal*, meaning "noble." It shares its roots with the more common Adelaide and the masculine Adelbert. The name enjoyed particular popularity in Victorian England, where it carried a gentle, old-fashioned charm. Notable bearers include the American poet Adeline Dutton Train Whitney, who wrote popular domestic novels in the 19th century, and Adeline Virginia Woolf, the celebrated English writer who used her first name as her middle one. The name also appears in the famous 2014 song "Sweet Adeline" by the band The Punch Brothers, though the tune itself is much older—a 1903 barbershop quartet standard that kept the name in the public ear. Its soft, melodic feel makes it a perennial choice for parents seeking a classic with a touch of romance.