Girl name · Germanic
Heidi
“of noble kind”
Vibes
Common nicknames
Short-forms and diminutives parents often use for Heidi.
Explore Heidi further
Similar-feel alternatives, or middle-name candidates that pair well with Heidi — both ranked by the same scoring system (vibe overlap, syllable rhythm, origin compatibility).
About the name
Heidi is a Swiss German diminutive of Adelheid, from the same adal (noble) root as Adeline and Adelaide. It was a nickname long before it was a name in its own right, and the novel is what made the difference.
Johanna Spyri's 1881 book has never been out of print and fixed the name to Alpine meadows so completely that it is hard to hear anything else in it. In the US it sits at number 340, having peaked after the 1937 Shirley Temple film.
It resists shortening past Heids. Two syllables want two or three (Heidi Josephine, Heidi Marguerite). On our vibe map it is Vintage Elegant with a Whimsical, open-air lift.
More Germanic names
Heidi sits in our Germanic set — these share its roots.
All Germanic names →Heidi — common questions
Is Heidi a boy or girl name?
Heidi is traditionally a girl name of Germanic origin.
What does the name Heidi mean?
Heidi means “of noble kind” of Germanic origin. Heidi is a Swiss German diminutive of Adelheid, from the same adal (noble) root as Adeline and Adelaide. It was a nickname long before it was a name in its own right, and the novel is what made the difference.
Where does the name Heidi come from?
Heidi is Germanic in origin. Johanna Spyri's 1881 book has never been out of print and fixed the name to Alpine meadows so completely that it is hard to hear anything else in it. In the US it sits at number 340, having peaked after the 1937 Shirley Temple film.
What are common nicknames for Heidi?
Heids — the short-forms parents most often use for Heidi.
How popular is Heidi?
Heidi did not make the top 1,000 girls' names in US Social Security Administration data for 2025, which makes it genuinely rare in the US.
Bring the name into the room
A couple of nice things named Heidi you might want for the nursery.