Ada Girl
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 | |
| TX | 95 | |
| NC | 76 | |
| PA | 76 | |
| NY | 74 | |
| IL | 72 | |
| OH | 64 | |
| GA | 57 | |
| FL | 55 | |
| TN | 53 | |
| WI | 51 | |
| MN | 45 | |
| IN | 44 | |
| VA | 44 | |
| IA | 39 |
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.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,563 |
| 2023 | 1,651 |
| 2022 | 1,656 |
| 2021 | 1,648 |
| 2020 | 1,560 |
| 2019 | 1,467 |
| 2018 | 1,302 |
| 2017 | 1,019 |
| 2016 | 968 |
| 2015 | 921 |
| 2014 | 871 |
| 2013 | 703 |
| 2012 | 634 |
| 2011 | 605 |
| 2010 | 543 |
| 2009 | 535 |
| 2008 | 529 |
| 2007 | 465 |
| 2006 | 404 |
| 2005 | 328 |
| 2004 | 305 |
| 2003 | 219 |
| 2002 | 214 |
| 2001 | 192 |
| 2000 | 196 |
| 1999 | 184 |
| 1998 | 146 |
| 1997 | 143 |
| 1996 | 140 |
| 1995 | 150 |
| 1994 | 155 |
| 1993 | 138 |
| 1992 | 197 |
| 1991 | 170 |
| 1990 | 177 |
| 1989 | 165 |
| 1988 | 154 |
| 1987 | 157 |
| 1986 | 146 |
| 1985 | 165 |
| 1984 | 156 |
| 1983 | 146 |
| 1982 | 170 |
| 1981 | 181 |
| 1980 | 166 |
| 1979 | 179 |
| 1978 | 197 |
| 1977 | 187 |
| 1976 | 168 |
| 1975 | 186 |
| 1974 | 164 |
| 1973 | 201 |
| 1972 | 206 |
| 1971 | 198 |
| 1970 | 238 |
| 1969 | 223 |
| 1968 | 254 |
| 1967 | 245 |
| 1966 | 244 |
| 1965 | 268 |
| 1964 | 318 |
| 1963 | 305 |
| 1962 | 322 |
| 1961 | 344 |
| 1960 | 351 |
| 1959 | 363 |
| 1958 | 371 |
| 1957 | 393 |
| 1956 | 397 |
| 1955 | 433 |
| 1954 | 444 |
| 1953 | 437 |
| 1952 | 482 |
| 1951 | 514 |
| 1950 | 471 |
| 1949 | 497 |
| 1948 | 533 |
| 1947 | 524 |
| 1946 | 547 |
| 1945 | 527 |
| 1944 | 547 |
| 1943 | 658 |
| 1942 | 709 |
| 1941 | 677 |
| 1940 | 665 |
| 1939 | 703 |
| 1938 | 745 |
| 1937 | 796 |
| 1936 | 750 |
| 1935 | 798 |
| 1934 | 833 |
| 1933 | 870 |
| 1932 | 984 |
| 1931 | 973 |
| 1930 | 1,040 |
| 1929 | 1,129 |
| 1928 | 1,213 |
| 1927 | 1,347 |
| 1926 | 1,462 |
| 1925 | 1,500 |
| 1924 | 1,583 |
| 1923 | 1,638 |
| 1922 | 1,684 |
| 1921 | 1,756 |
| 1920 | 1,823 |
| 1919 | 1,818 |
| 1918 | 1,943 |
| 1917 | 1,853 |
| 1916 | 1,860 |
| 1915 | 1,817 |
| 1914 | 1,494 |
| 1913 | 1,282 |
| 1912 | 1,268 |
| 1911 | 939 |
| 1910 | 960 |
| 1909 | 945 |
| 1908 | 922 |
| 1907 | 906 |
| 1906 | 819 |
| 1905 | 873 |
| 1904 | 878 |
| 1903 | 843 |
| 1902 | 921 |
| 1901 | 913 |
| 1900 | 1,101 |
| 1899 | 984 |
| 1898 | 1,022 |
| 1897 | 956 |
| 1896 | 1,041 |
| 1895 | 1,124 |
| 1894 | 1,018 |
| 1893 | 1,051 |
| 1892 | 1,134 |
| 1891 | 975 |
| 1890 | 1,074 |
| 1889 | 1,005 |
| 1888 | 1,116 |
| 1887 | 910 |
| 1886 | 915 |
| 1885 | 876 |
| 1884 | 854 |
| 1883 | 778 |
| 1882 | 689 |
| 1881 | 628 |
| 1880 | 652 |