Anyone else spot this post at Swistle? The couple is looking for a name for baby #2, a little sister for Adelie, nicknamed Addie.
It’s a name I’ve heard once or twice of late, and I’ve been wondering about Adelie. My favorite Adel- name is Adelaide, but it’s a huge category, from surname Addison to sweet Adeline to the inevitable Adalyn. Just Ada or Addie are options, too, and Adalie certainly owes something to the popularity of the unrelated, but similar-sounding, Natalie.
Back to Adelie. The parents of Adelie describe the name as “classic and sophisticated.” Swistle perceives Adelie as “a modern invented name.” Both Nameberry and Meilleurs Prenoms associate Adelie with Adele, though Behind the Name doesn’t list Adelie at all.
And so I ask, Adelie: Yea or Nay?
Is Adelie pronounced like Natalie? Ad-a-lee? I was saying it more like Ad-deli – like where you get your cold meat sandwiches.
I prefer Adeline or even more so: Ada – especially after watching the BBC adaptation of ‘Bleak House’ recently.
I’m not entirely sure how to say it. I think it’s AD-ah-lee, but I keep seeing ah-DELL-ee. I don’t know why. I read that post on Swistle, and was both surprized by the parents’ description of Adelie, and how blunt Swistle was about it. She tends to be a bit more neutral/tactful about people’s style. And, umm, no to Adelie. Adele, Adelaide? sure.
Kayt, I was surprised by Swistle, too! She’s usually Switzerland.
I have seen this used very rarely in France, accent mark over the E, pronounced (AH-day-LEE). I think its very pretty.
Oh, that’s the correct pronunciation! I think that’s pretty.
I like Adélie a lot. I haven’t quite figured out which pronunciation I like best, or which one is correct for that matter. I say ah-day-LEE, uh-DAY-lee, and uh-DELL-ee. I find it strange how someone who has a daughter named Adélie could like Wyndan and Quinlan. They just don’t go together, in my opinion. And I disagree with Swistle. Jules Durmont d’Urville named the Adelie penguins after his wife, Adélie in 1830. This doesn’t make the name modern. It has a history.
THE PENGUINS! How could I forget the penguins?
And I do think you’re quite right – Adélie has roots as a feminine given name, even if they’re obscure and not necessarily known in English. Wyndan and Quinlan are very different in style from Adélie.
Yup, the first thing I thought of was Adelie penguins! I’d pronounce this name uh-DELL-ee. (Rhymes with “the deli”!)
Well, to add to the pronunciation confusion bonanza, I saw it thought ADD-a-lee or ADD-a-lye?… to honor a Grandpa Adlai? I don’t hate Addie type names by any measure, but this is not one of my favorites – I just can’t endorse such a confusing name (in terms of pronunciation… I’d prefer Adalee – it’s not as pretty to look at but there’s less pronunciation confusion). I do like the “French” style pronunciation best.
The first person I heard pronounce Adelie have it the same rhythm and vowel sounds as Natalie – and, given Natalie’s popularity, I can imagine that would happen with some frequency. It’s also closer to rising Rosalie.
Sebastiane, the French pronunciation is gorgeous, but I’m not certain it would work here. It should, as it isn’t hard to say – but there are so many Ad- names out there right now, I think it might quite the battle. Or maybe not …
Adélie, I don’t mind, but Adelie not at all. I don’t care for names with ambiguous pronunciations and Adelie will be pronounced as A-deli way too often.
I also think its odd that someone who like Adelie would like a name like Quinlan or Wyndan for a girl. I also disagree with Swistle about Adelie’s history.
Cool about the penguins.
I think this name is actually quite pretty. I didn’t think of it as a made-up or trendy name at all.
I much prefer the similar Amelie though.
I love Adelie! It’s one of the names I discussed when I was writing my blog. My husband loves penguins, so that’s how it came to be on our list.
The big problem is pronunciation. ADD-uh-lee (like Natalie) would be the most reasonable Anglicization. But AH-dey-LEE seems to be the more legitimate French pronunciation — though you’d sound awfully snobby to insist on that if you live among English-speakers. And Webster’s dictionary lists the penguin pronunciation as uh-DAY-lee (as in “a daily multivitamin”), which I find the least attractive.
Definitely not a modern invented name, Swistle! I would imagine it was originally a nickname for Adele or the French version of the elaborate Adelia.