Ada Girl

Popularity: #185 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: AY-duh //ˈeɪ.də//

Origin: German; Hebrew

Meaning: Noble; Adornment

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Ada has roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the word 'adāh,' which means 'ornament' or 'adornment.' This name appears in the Old Testament, specifically in the Book of Genesis, where Ada is mentioned as one of the wives of Lamech, a figure in the genealogy of Noah. The name subsequently made its way into various languages through translations of biblical texts, influencing its adoption in different cultures.

In the early medieval period, Ada was introduced into Old French as 'Adele,' which later evolved into various forms across Europe, including the Germanic 'Adelheid' and the English 'Adelaide.' The name Ada itself emerged in English usage during the 19th century, influenced by the Romantic movement and the growing interest in medieval names. Historically, the name Ada has been associated with several notable figures, including Ada Lovelace, who is often regarded as one of the first computer programmers in the mid-19th century.

Her work on Charles Babbage's early mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine, has left a lasting legacy in the fields of mathematics and computer science. Additionally, the name Ada has been borne by various saints and noblewomen throughout history, contributing to its cultural significance.

Culturally, Ada has been embraced in literature and the arts, often symbolizing beauty and grace. The name's simplicity and elegance have allowed it to resonate across different cultures and eras.

In some traditions, diminutive forms such as Addie have emerged, reflecting a more affectionate or familial usage. Overall, Ada's historical and cultural associations have contributed to its enduring presence in various societies.

Famous people named Ada

In this section, you will find notable people named Ada. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Ada who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Ada who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Ada Lovelace is a mathematician and writer best known for her work on Charles Babbage's early mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine.

Ada Wong is a fictional character best known for her role in the Resident Evil video game series.

Ada Nicodemou is an actress best known for her role in Home and Away.

Fictional characters named Ada

The following list of fictional characters named Ada is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Ada Wong is a fictional character from the video game series Resident Evil. She is a mysterious spy who often assists the protagonists while pursuing her own agenda.

Ada is a fictional character from the novel Ada or Ardor by Vladimir Nabokov. She is the central character in a complex narrative exploring themes of love and memory.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Ada, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Ada. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Ada was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Ada has ranked as high as #211 nationally, which occurred in 1918, and has been most popular in New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio, and California.

In the past 5 years the name Ada has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Ada is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Ada was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Ada (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
CA 104
7%
TX 95
6%
NC 76
5%
PA 76
5%
NY 74
5%
IL 72
5%
OH 64
4%
GA 57
4%
FL 55
4%
TN 53
4%
WI 51
3%
MN 45
3%
IN 44
3%
VA 44
3%
IA 39
3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Ada.

YearBirths
20241,563
20231,651
20221,656
20211,648
20201,560
20191,467
20181,302
20171,019
2016968
2015921
2014871
2013703
2012634
2011605
2010543
2009535
2008529
2007465
2006404
2005328
2004305
2003219
2002214
2001192
2000196
1999184
1998146
1997143
1996140
1995150
1994155
1993138
1992197
1991170
1990177
1989165
1988154
1987157
1986146
1985165
1984156
1983146
1982170
1981181
1980166
1979179
1978197
1977187
1976168
1975186
1974164
1973201
1972206
1971198
1970238
1969223
1968254
1967245
1966244
1965268
1964318
1963305
1962322
1961344
1960351
1959363
1958371
1957393
1956397
1955433
1954444
1953437
1952482
1951514
1950471
1949497
1948533
1947524
1946547
1945527
1944547
1943658
1942709
1941677
1940665
1939703
1938745
1937796
1936750
1935798
1934833
1933870
1932984
1931973
19301,040
19291,129
19281,213
19271,347
19261,462
19251,500
19241,583
19231,638
19221,684
19211,756
19201,823
19191,818
19181,943
19171,853
19161,860
19151,817
19141,494
19131,282
19121,268
1911939
1910960
1909945
1908922
1907906
1906819
1905873
1904878
1903843
1902921
1901913
19001,101
1899984
18981,022
1897956
18961,041
18951,124
18941,018
18931,051
18921,134
1891975
18901,074
18891,005
18881,116
1887910
1886915
1885876
1884854
1883778
1882689
1881628
1880652