Heidi (given name)


Heidi is a Germanic feminine given name. It became an internationally popular first name as a direct result of the Swiss children's book, Heidi. It is an affectionate diminutive of the name Adelheid, which means "nobility" or, more loosely, "of noble birth". The name began to be used in the English-speaking world shortly after the 1937 Shirley Temple movie adaptation of the novel. In German-speaking countries, Heidi is also used as a diminutive for other names, such as Heidrun, Heidelinde, and Heidemarie.