Ida

♀ Girl

Pronounced EYE-duh /ˈaɪ.də/High

Meaning: Work, labor; from Germanic id (work, labor); also a name from Greek mythology, from Mount Ida in Crete and PhrygiaMedium

In 30 seconds: A name with Germanic ('work, labor') and Greek mythological roots (Mount Ida, birthplace of Zeus). A staple of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Ida is now reviving sharply as one of the chicest vintage choices.

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumGermanic, Greek

MeaningWork, labor; from Germanic id (work, labor); also a name from Greek mythology, from Mount Ida in Crete and Phrygia

U.S. rank (2025)#1120 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births209 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1918

Total births (all-time)≈ 187,923

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Ida may derive from Germanic id (work, labor) or from Greek mythology — Mount Ida is a sacred mountain in Crete associated with the birth of Zeus, and another in Phrygia (Turkey). The name was used in medieval Europe and was popular in the Victorian era.

Ida peaked in the late 19th–early 20th century in the U.S. and faded through the mid-20th century. It is now rising again strongly among vintage name revivalists, ranked #1143 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? Ida B. Wells (1862–1931) was a pioneering African American journalist and civil rights activist who led a crusade against lynching in the United States — her name is now synonymous with courageous investigative journalism.

Overall data confidence 84%

Behind the Name — Ida — Germanic/Greek etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

Ida

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

★Ida B. Wells (1862–1931)
African American journalist, activist, and suffragist who led a crusade against lynching and was a co-founder of the NAACP.

If you like Ida…

Ada— short two-syllable vintage name enjoying the same revival

Ava— two-syllable vowel-forward name with the same quiet elegance

Ivy— two-syllable vintage name on a similar revival arc

Ines— two-syllable Spanish/Portuguese vintage name in the same register

Irma— two-syllable Germanic vintage name from the same early-20th-century era

Explore names like Ida

By themegreek classic two-syllable vintage germanic retro-revival

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ida mean?

Ida has two possible origins: Germanic id (work, labor) and Greek mythology (Mount Ida, sacred to Zeus). The exact etymology is disputed.

How do you pronounce Ida?

It's said EYE-duh — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Ida a boy or girl name?

Ida is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Ida?

Ida ranked #1143 for U.S. girls in 2024 and is rising steadily as a vintage revival choice.