The baby name Adlai belongs to an obscure Biblical figure, but it sounds fresh and stylish now.
Thanks to Bek for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME ADLAI MEAN?
Adlai is an Old Testament name. But the name’s origins remain unclear, and the character isn’t exactly a headliner. Adlai is the father of Shaphat, a herdsman.
We do know this: Adlai is a contracted form of the Hebrew name Adaliah or Adalia.
Some connect it to a phrase meaning righteousness or justice of Yahweh. (That’s especially true for expressly Christian sites, like this one.) Other suggest it means witness.
It’s possible that Adlai surnames Atlee and Adley are related, but that doesn’t seem likely.
While the precise meaning of Adlai is lost to time, the name itself has endured.
HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE ADLAI?
Before we go any farther, how do you pronounce the first name Adlai?
The correct answer is ad-lay. Or, at least, the most famous Adlai rhymed his name with jay and play.
Except.
Ad-lie or ad-lye – rhymes with sky and rye – would be every bit as logical, right? It brings to mind Kai, Sarai, and Lorelai. In fact, rhyming Adlai with Zakai seems more obvious.
Also noteworthy: those AI endings might even be used as a creative way to spell girl’s names. Nine girls were named Adalae in 2023; another nine were Adalay, which is just a hint of a syllable away from Adlai.
Ada names like Adlee and Adleigh are used in small, but steady numbers. While Adlai traditionally appears on lists of baby boys names, it’s easy to imagine parents borrowing this overlooked choice for a daughter.
ADLAI STEVENSON
Obscure names inspired by the Bible have always had their fans, particularly in an era before easily accessible books of names. (Or, you know, the internet in your pocket and on your wrist.)
Born in Kentucky in the 1830s, Adlai Ewing Stevenson became Vice President of the United States under President Grover Cleveland, serving from 1893 to 1897.
Adlai liked his name well enough to pass it down to his son, Adlai Stevenson II. Junior served as governor of Illinois and twice ran for president. During his 1952 campaign, he made the memorable statement, “It is often easier to fight for principles than to live up to them.”
Adlai II was defeated by Dwight D. Eisenhower both times, perhaps in part because he was considered just too smart for the job.
His son, Adlai Stevenson III, went into politics, too, and spent more than a decade in the Senate.
Adlai Stevenson IV skipped politics for journalism and business, but could not escape the family name. When his son was born in the 1990s, he named him Adlai Stevenson V.
JOB’S TEARS
Other than the political family, there’s a grain that you might recognize, sometimes called adlay or adlai.
Also known as Chinese pearl barley or Job’s tears, it’s native to southeast Asia and sometimes used as a grain in cooking. It’s not widely known in the West, but then again, neither was quinoa not so long ago.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME ADLAI?
Early twentieth century census records show Adlais from New York to California and Illinois to Louisiana – but the name was never common. Between 1891 and 1893, the baby name Adlai appeared on the fringes of the US Top 1000.
The girl’s name Adlai was given to fewer than five children born in the year 2023. Still, it could fit in with Adeline, Adalyn, and so many similar names.
The boy’s name Adlai was given to just eight boys in 2023. But if Isaiah and Elijah and Kai are Top 100 popular names, why not Adlai? Usage peaked around 1952, back when Adlai II was running for president. We’ve mostly forgotten about it since then, but it probably seems vaguely familiar to many.
That makes the name rare, but with potential.
UNDISCOVERED RARITY
A minor character from the Old Testament, a handful of men from the same political family, and maybe a grain that’s less popular than quinoa?
It doesn’t sound like the makings of a popular given name.
And yet, the baby name Aldai ends with the letters AI. The latest trends have favored names like Zakai, Kenai, and Malakai for boys. Change the pronunciation just a bit, and Adlai fits right in with those rising popular name.
It might also appeal to parents who love antique choices like Felix and Ambrose, Benedict and Boaz. It’s offbeat, but feels traditional – a powerful combination. Overall, Adlai is an undiscovered rarity that could fit right in today.
What do you think of the baby name Adlai?
First published on February 26, 2009, this post was revised on October 26, 2024.
We named our daughter Adlai, and are both from Illinois. We know it was a boy’s name, but it’s not really anyone’s name anymore, which we liked. We pronounce it adLAY, so I’m not sure where all of the adLYE or adLEE stuff is coming from. I actually met Adlai Stevenson’s great grand son (or nephew or something) he’s lives south of the town I grew up in, and I recall it being pronounced like we do. You can also reference the Adlai Stevenson song by Sufjan Stevens.
We do have a lot of problems with people pronouncing it like the city in Australia, Adelaide, and or like there is a randomly placed third syllable, but a lot of people mispronounce my last name wrong as well, so I think some folks just can’t read 🙂
I think we’ve only ever had one person have a real fit about it being a man’s name, so we asked him what he thought about women being named Kelly, Courtney, or any of the other names like that.
Thanks for sharing that story, Anthony – and you’re so right that “it’s not really anyone’s name anymore.” Just 20 boys in 2013 … which is really, really underused!
I thought it was pronounced ad-LAY?
As far as I can tell (from having dug through as many youtube clips as I could), Adlai Stevenson II used the pronunciation AD-lee. One of the popular posters displayed by his political supporters claimed, “I’m madly for Adlai.”
I love this name and am trying hard to convince my hubby to consider it for our boy #2.
That’s interesting – thank you! And I do think it is a great choice for a boy. Good luck!