The singer, who is currently number two on the UK midweek chart with 'Heaven', had to ditch her birth name - which is also Adele - as the Brit Award winner was gaining popularity.
Sandé told Metro: "I changed it as soon as Adele came out. I just thought, 'You've kind of taken the [name] now', so I went with my middle name.
"She was just getting bigger and bigger, so I thought I just really need it."
The up-and-coming star also claimed that Susan Boyle, whom she has written for in the past, should be classed as a true "rock star".
Sandé said: "Can you imagine a party with Susan Boyle? She'd just do something nuts and everyone would just be shocked. That's a real rock star - very unpredictable."
Emeli Sandé recently told Digital Spy that she is attracted to the honesty of rapper Professor Green's music.
> Digital Spy speaks to Emeli Sandé: 'I want to give my best songs away'
Watch the music video for Emeli Sandé's debut single 'Heaven' below:
