Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Ida
GirlGermanic· “work, labor”
- Meaning
- work, labor
- Origin
- Germanic
- Pronunciation
- EYE-duh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,120
- US babies 2025
- 209
- Best rank
- #7 (1880)
- Peak year
- 1918
Meaning and origin of Ida
Ida is a Germanic name that is usually said to mean “work, labor”.
Ida is a Germanic name usually explained as work or labor, though its exact meaning is not fully certain. It was used by Germanic nobility in the Middle Ages and was later revived in English, helped in part by Tennyson's poem The Princess, whose heroine is named Ida. In Greek mythology, Mount Ida is linked to the childhood of Zeus, but that is a separate word. Ida sounds short and strong, with a vintage charm. It needs no nickname.
Popularity over time
Ida 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 107 different years. Its best national rank was #7 in 1880, and the most babies received it in 1918, when 4,450 were named Ida. In 2025, 209 babies were named Ida, and it ranked #1,120 nationally. That is 28% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #66 in 1920, #217 in 1950, #786 in 1980, #1,806 in 2000, #1,931 in 2010, and #1,120 in 2025. Of the 187,929 US girls named Ida since records began, 19% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 34,792 babies. Since 2010, 2,758 more have been named Ida.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Pearl, Eva, Viola, Myrtle, and Nellie.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Ida ranked highest in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Ida is usually pronounced EYE-duh, with two syllables. It has three letters, starts with I and ends in “-da”.
Middle names for Ida
A few middle names that flow with Ida: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Ida
Similar names
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Lists that include Ida
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ida mean?
Ida is a Germanic name that is usually said to mean “work, labor”.
What is the origin of the name Ida?
Ida has Germanic roots. Ida is a Germanic name usually explained as work or labor, though its exact meaning is not fully certain.
Is Ida a popular name?
Not especially. Ida ranked #1,120 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Ida a boy or girl name?
Ida is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Ida?
Ida is usually pronounced EYE-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