Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Huda
GirlArabic· “guidance”
- Meaning
- guidance
- Origin
- Arabic
- Pronunciation
- HOO-duh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,739
- US babies 2025
- 117
- Best rank
- #1,739 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Huda
Huda is an Arabic name that means “guidance”.
In Arabic, huda means guidance, and the word appears repeatedly in the Quran in the sense of divine guidance. As a given name it is short, clear and deeply rooted in Muslim tradition, used across the Arab world and in South Asia. A well-known bearer is Huda Shaarawi, the Egyptian feminist and nationalist leader of the early twentieth century. The name is pronounced HOO-duh, with a soft h and an easy stress on the first syllable, so it travels well in English-speaking countries. Related names include Hidaya, from the same root, and Hadi for boys.
Popularity over time
Huda first appears in US Social Security records in 1976. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #1,739, and its highest count, 117 babies. Use has grown 77% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #8,460 in 1980, #3,295 in 2000, #3,913 in 2010, and #1,739 in 2025. Of the 2,021 US girls named Huda since records began, 30% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 518 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Mei, Mayla, Yasmina, Rayah, and Zyra.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Huda ranked highest in Virginia, Illinois, and Michigan.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | #716 | 10 |
| Illinois | #877 | 10 |
| Michigan | #895 | 8 |
| Minnesota | #902 | 5 |
| California | #1163 | 22 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Huda is usually pronounced HOO-duh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with H and ends in “-da”.
Middle names for Huda
A few middle names that flow with Huda: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Huda
Similar names
Zaida Girl
ZAY-duh
“growth, abundance” · Arabic
#2,932
Rida Girl
REE-duh
“contentment, satisfaction” · Arabic
#6,773
Jada Girl
JAY-duh
American (modern coinage)
#1,201
Jayda Girl
JAY-duh
“modern variant of Jada” · American (modern coinage)
#1,214
Frida Girl
FREE-duh
“peace” · German
#1,565
Aida Girl
eye-EE-duh
“uncertain; possibly returning, visitor” · Italian
#1,414
Vida Girl
VEE-duh
“life” · Spanish
#1,218
Brenda Girl
BREHN-duh
“uncertain; possibly sword” · Old Norse
#1,527
Laylah Girl
LAY-luh
“night” · Arabic
#1,254
Zelda Girl
ZEHL-duh
“short form of Griselda” · Germanic
#832
Veda Girl
VAY-duh
“knowledge” · Sanskrit
#739
Yazmin Girl
YAZ-mihn
“jasmine flower” · Persian
#1,651
Lists that include Huda
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Huda mean?
Huda is an Arabic name that means “guidance”.
What is the origin of the name Huda?
Huda has Arabic roots. In Arabic, huda means guidance, and the word appears repeatedly in the Quran in the sense of divine guidance.
Is Huda a popular name?
Not especially. Huda ranked #1,739 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Huda a boy or girl name?
Huda is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Huda?
Huda is usually pronounced HOO-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