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Ada

♀ Girl

Pronounced AY-duh /ˈeɪ.də/High

Meaning: Noble, of noble kind — from Old High German <em>adal</em> (noble) or Hebrew <em>Ada</em> (adornment, beauty)High

In 30 seconds: Short, strong, and surprisingly layered, Ada means 'noble' in Germanic and 'adornment' in Hebrew. It carries the legacy of computing pioneer Ada Lovelace and is enjoying a major 21st-century revival.
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Origin HighGermanic, Hebrew
MeaningNoble, of noble kind — from Old High German <em>adal</em> (noble) or Hebrew <em>Ada</em> (adornment, beauty)
Peak year1918
Total births (all-time)≈ 94,492

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 191818802017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Ada has two distinct origins. In Germanic tradition it is a short form of names beginning with adal (noble), such as Adelaide. In the Hebrew Bible, Ada (or Adah) is the name of two women in Genesis, where the root suggests 'adornment' or 'beauty.' Both traditions give the name substance and depth.

Ada was extremely popular in the Victorian era, partly through Ada Lovelace's fame. It declined in the mid-20th century but has seen a strong revival since the 2000s as part of the vintage short-name trend (Ivy, Iris, Eva, Mae). It re-entered the U.S. top 100 girls' names in the 2010s and continues to climb.

Did you know? Ada Lovelace (1815–1852), daughter of Lord Byron, is widely regarded as the world's first computer programmer — a century before computers existed. She wrote algorithms for Charles Babbage's proposed Analytical Engine. The Ada programming language was named in her honour in 1980.

Variations

AdahAida

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Ada Lovelace (1815–1852)
    English mathematician regarded as the world's first computer programmer; the Ada programming language is named for her.

If you like Ada…

Iris— short, elegant two-syllable name with the same vintage revival charm
Ivy— nature-inspired short classic sharing Ada's crisp vowel-start and revival momentum
Eva— short European classic with the same simple elegance and long history
Nora— two-syllable vintage classic equally beloved in the modern revival

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ada mean?

Ada means 'noble' or 'of noble kind' from Old High German <em>adal</em>, or 'adornment' from Hebrew — both traditions give the name depth.

How do you pronounce Ada?

Ada is pronounced AY-duh /ˈeɪ.də/ — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Ada a boy or girl name?

Ada is a girls' name.

How popular is Ada?

Ada entered the U.S. top 100 girls' names in the 2010s after a strong revival from its Victorian-era popularity.