Adah Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: AY-duh //ˈeɪ.də//
Origin: Hebrew; English
Meaning: Hebrew: adornment; English: noble
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Adah has its roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the word 'ādāh,' which means 'to adorn' or 'to be beautiful.' This name appears in the Old Testament of the Bible, specifically in the Book of Genesis, where Adah is mentioned as one of the wives of Lamech, a descendant of Cain. The Hebrew form of the name was transliterated into Greek and subsequently Latin, eventually making its way into Old French before being adopted into Middle English.
This linguistic journey reflects the broader historical interactions between these cultures and languages over centuries. In biblical texts, Adah is associated with themes of beauty and adornment, which may have contributed to the name's enduring appeal.
The name appears in the genealogical accounts of the early chapters of Genesis, which were foundational to Judeo-Christian traditions. The significance of biblical names often extends beyond their literal meanings, as they can embody moral or spiritual qualities valued in these cultures.
The name Adah, with its connotations of beauty, may have resonated with those seeking to convey positive attributes through naming. Throughout history, the name Adah has been referenced in various religious and literary contexts, reinforcing its cultural resonance.
In the medieval period, the name was sometimes used in Christian contexts, reflecting the influence of biblical figures on naming practices. Additionally, the name has been included in various translations of the Bible, including the King James Version published in 1611, which helped solidify its presence in English-speaking cultures.
The name Adah also has diminutive forms, such as Ada, which have been used in different cultures. The enduring nature of Adah in literature and religious texts underscores its significance as a name that embodies beauty and virtue, making it a notable choice throughout history.
Famous people named Adah
In this section, you will find notable people named Adah. 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 Adah who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Adah 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.
Adah Isaacs Menken was an actress and poet best known for her role in Mazeppa, her performances in the 19th century, and her influence on the bohemian culture of the time.
Adah Sharma is an actress best known for her roles in 1920, Heart Attack, and Sahoo.
Fictional characters named Adah
The following list of fictional characters named Adah 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.
Adah is a fictional character from the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. She is the daughter of Okonkwo and represents the struggles of women in a patriarchal society.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Adah, 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 Adah. 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 Adah was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Adah has ranked as high as #1235 nationally, which occurred in 2020, and has been most popular in Texas, California, North Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania.
In the past 5 years the name Adah has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Adah 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 Adah was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Adah (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 | 9 | |
| NC | 8 | |
| GA | 8 | |
| SC | 7 | |
| TX | 6 | |
| FL | 6 | |
| VA | 5 |
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 Adah.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 94 |
| 2023 | 76 |
| 2022 | 93 |
| 2021 | 90 |
| 2020 | 121 |
| 2019 | 106 |
| 2018 | 108 |
| 2017 | 87 |
| 2016 | 81 |
| 2015 | 90 |
| 2014 | 78 |
| 2013 | 81 |
| 2012 | 59 |
| 2011 | 60 |
| 2010 | 77 |
| 2009 | 73 |
| 2008 | 65 |
| 2007 | 68 |
| 2006 | 63 |
| 2005 | 47 |
| 2004 | 37 |
| 2003 | 30 |
| 2002 | 18 |
| 2001 | 22 |
| 2000 | 10 |
| 1999 | 10 |
| 1998 | 7 |
| 1997 | 11 |
| 1995 | 7 |
| 1993 | 6 |
| 1992 | 5 |
| 1991 | 12 |
| 1990 | 7 |
| 1989 | 5 |
| 1988 | 10 |
| 1985 | 7 |
| 1984 | 7 |
| 1981 | 7 |
| 1980 | 8 |
| 1979 | 5 |
| 1978 | 7 |
| 1977 | 10 |
| 1976 | 7 |
| 1973 | 5 |
| 1971 | 5 |
| 1970 | 8 |
| 1969 | 7 |
| 1968 | 5 |
| 1967 | 5 |
| 1965 | 7 |
| 1963 | 5 |
| 1958 | 6 |
| 1957 | 7 |
| 1955 | 6 |
| 1954 | 9 |
| 1953 | 6 |
| 1952 | 8 |
| 1951 | 6 |
| 1950 | 13 |
| 1948 | 12 |
| 1946 | 7 |
| 1945 | 8 |
| 1944 | 8 |
| 1943 | 18 |
| 1942 | 11 |
| 1941 | 5 |
| 1940 | 10 |
| 1939 | 8 |
| 1938 | 9 |
| 1937 | 9 |
| 1936 | 10 |
| 1935 | 20 |
| 1934 | 15 |
| 1933 | 17 |
| 1932 | 20 |
| 1931 | 15 |
| 1930 | 33 |
| 1929 | 20 |
| 1928 | 22 |
| 1927 | 25 |
| 1926 | 34 |
| 1925 | 32 |
| 1924 | 29 |
| 1923 | 43 |
| 1922 | 45 |
| 1921 | 48 |
| 1920 | 42 |
| 1919 | 42 |
| 1918 | 49 |
| 1917 | 57 |
| 1916 | 59 |
| 1915 | 65 |
| 1914 | 48 |
| 1913 | 30 |
| 1912 | 27 |
| 1911 | 26 |
| 1910 | 20 |
| 1909 | 18 |
| 1908 | 18 |
| 1907 | 27 |
| 1906 | 32 |
| 1905 | 28 |
| 1904 | 24 |
| 1903 | 38 |
| 1902 | 25 |
| 1901 | 24 |
| 1900 | 37 |
| 1899 | 39 |
| 1898 | 35 |
| 1897 | 57 |
| 1896 | 46 |
| 1895 | 33 |
| 1894 | 41 |
| 1893 | 48 |
| 1892 | 40 |
| 1891 | 43 |
| 1890 | 49 |
| 1889 | 33 |
| 1888 | 38 |
| 1887 | 32 |
| 1886 | 41 |
| 1885 | 32 |
| 1884 | 33 |
| 1883 | 41 |
| 1882 | 27 |
| 1881 | 29 |
| 1880 | 24 |