How to say it
HEI · di
/ˈhaɪ.di/
Feminine
Heidi
Noble
What it means
A German short form of Adelheid (Adelaide), from adal, 'noble.'
Heidi is the German pet form of Adelheid, the same name as Adelaide, built on adal, 'noble.' Johanna Spyri's beloved 1881 novel Heidi, about an orphan in the Swiss Alps, carried the name around the world and wrapped it in mountain-fresh wholesomeness. It is bright and cheerful, and it ties back to the whole noble Adelaide and Adeline family. Said HY-dee.
Popularity over time
peaked at #60 in 1974, currently #340 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
A short form of Adelheid (Adelaide), now fully a name on its own.
- Pop culture
Johanna Spyri's novel Heidi is the enduring image.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Heidi the Alpine orphan of Johanna Spyri's classic novel
- Heidi Klum German-American model and television host
Spelling variants
- Heidy
- Heidie
Names with the same feeling
See Heidi from another angle
By meaning