What popularized the baby name Adia in the late 1990s?

Sarah McLachlan's single "Adia" (1998)
Sarah McLachlan single

According to the U.S. baby name data, the uncommon name Adia more than doubled in usage in 1998, then rose even higher in 1999:

  • 2000: 134 baby girls named Adia
  • 1999: 155 baby girls named Adia
  • 1998: 116 baby girls named Adia
  • 1997: 51 baby girls named Adia
  • 1996: 45 baby girls named Adia

Why?

Because of the Sarah McLachlan single “Adia” (pronounced ay-dee-uh), which was released in March of 1998. The song peaked at #3 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart later the same year, in August.

During a 1999 appearance on the The Rosie O’Donnell Show, McLachlan revealed that “Adia” had originally been called “Emily.” She decided to change the name, though, because Simon & Garfunkel had already used Emily in the title of their song “For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her” (1966).

Here’s the music video for “Adia”:

What are your thoughts on the name Adia?

P.S. The late ’90s is also when Sarah McLachlan was involved in the traveling music festival Lilith Fair.

Sources: Adia – Wikipedia, Adia by Sarah McLachlan – Songfacts, SSA

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