Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Ada
GirlGermanic, English· “noble”
- Meaning
- noble
- Origin
- Germanic, English
- Pronunciation
- AY-duh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #219
- US babies 2025
- 1,401
- Best rank
- #33 (1880)
- Peak year
- 1918
Meaning and origin of Ada
Ada is a Germanic and English name that is usually said to mean “noble”.
Ada began as a short form of Germanic names beginning with adal, noble, such as Adelaide and Adeline, and it is sometimes also connected with the biblical Adah. Ada Lovelace, the English mathematician who wrote about Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine and is often called the first computer programmer, made the name famous. It was very popular in the Victorian era and has returned with the revival of short vintage names. Ada is simple, strong and intelligent in feel, and it reads the same forward and backward. Addie is an affectionate nickname.
Popularity over time
Ada has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 130 different years. Its best national rank was #33 in 1880, and the most babies received it in 1918, when 1,943 were named Ada. In 2025, 1,401 babies were named Ada, and it ranked #219 nationally. That is 52% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #136 in 1920, #369 in 1950, #909 in 1980, #1,053 in 2000, #538 in 2010, and #219 in 2025. Of the 106,905 US girls named Ada since records began, 14% were born in the 1910s, its biggest decade. The 1920s come next, with 15,135 babies. Since 2010, 18,532 more have been named Ada.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Hattie, Verna, Fannie, Alberta, and Mamie.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Ada ranked highest in North Dakota, Maine, and Wisconsin.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | #91 | 10 |
| Maine | #96 | 10 |
| Wisconsin | #104 | 46 |
| Minnesota | #111 | 46 |
| Iowa | #117 | 27 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Ada is usually pronounced AY-duh, with two syllables. It has three letters, starts with A and ends in “-da”.
Middle names for Ada
A few middle names that flow with Ada: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Ada
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Lists that include Ada
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ada mean?
Ada is a Germanic and English name that is usually said to mean “noble”.
What is the origin of the name Ada?
Ada has Germanic and English roots. Ada began as a short form of Germanic names beginning with adal, noble, such as Adelaide and Adeline, and it is sometimes also connected with the biblical Adah.
Is Ada a popular name?
Yes. Ada ranked #219 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Ada a boy or girl name?
Ada is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Ada?
Ada is usually pronounced AY-duh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings