Inga Girl

Popularity: #938 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ING-uh /ˈɪŋɡə/

Origin: Scandinavian; Old Norse

Meaning: Old Norse: 'protected by Ing'; Scandinavian: 'hero's daughter'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Inga has its roots in Old Norse, derived from the name "Ing," which refers to a god of fertility and peace in Germanic mythology. The suffix "-a" is a common feminine ending in many languages, particularly in Scandinavian contexts.

The name entered the English language through the influence of Scandinavian settlers and the Viking Age, which began in the late 8th century and continued into the 11th century. As these Norse peoples settled in various parts of the British Isles, they brought with them their language and naming conventions, including names like Inga.

Historically, the name Inga has been associated with various figures in Norse mythology and literature. The name is often linked to the legendary hero Ingvi, who is considered an ancestor of the royal family of the Ynglings, a dynasty mentioned in the "Heimskringla," a collection of sagas written in the 13th century by the Icelandic historian Snorri Sturluson.

This connection to nobility and mythological heritage has contributed to the name's enduring significance in Scandinavian culture. Culturally, Inga has been embraced in various forms across different regions, particularly in Scandinavia, where it is often viewed as a symbol of strength and femininity.

The name has also been associated with various saints and historical figures, further solidifying its place in cultural memory. Diminutive forms such as Inge or Inga-Lill have emerged, reflecting the name's adaptability and resonance within different contexts.

Overall, Inga embodies a rich tapestry of linguistic evolution, historical significance, and cultural symbolism.

Famous people named Inga

In this section, you will find notable people named Inga. 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 Inga who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Inga 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.

Inga Swenson is an actress best known for Benson, The Good Life, and The King and I.

Inga Nielsen is a soprano best known for her performances in operas such as Salome and Aida.

Inga Rumpf is a singer and songwriter best known for her work with the band Atlantis and her solo career.

Fictional characters named Inga

The following list of fictional characters named Inga 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.

Inga is a fictional character from the film Young Frankenstein. She is a lab assistant who is both charming and resourceful, helping Dr. Frankenstein with his experiments.

Sibling suggestions

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

FreyaAstridSigridKajaMajaLena

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Inga. 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.

InesIlkaAnyaNinaTinaZinaLinaVera

U.S. Historical Usage

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

Inga has ranked as high as #1681 nationally, which occurred in 1969, and has been most popular in California, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Inga has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Inga 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 Inga was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

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 Inga.

Year Total Births Girl
2025 10 10
2024 12 12
2023 11 11
2022 23 23
2021 23 23
2020 12 12
2019 13 13
2018 21 21
2017 30 30
2016 20 20
2015 22 22
2014 24 24
2013 21 21
2012 20 20
2011 21 21
2010 18 18
2009 18 18
2008 11 11
2007 17 17
2006 26 26
2005 14 14
2004 14 14
2003 16 16
2002 14 14
2001 16 16
2000 12 12
1999 18 18
1998 18 18
1997 9 9
1996 18 18
1995 12 12
1994 17 17
1993 18 18
1992 20 20
1991 22 22
1990 19 19
1989 22 22
1988 19 19
1987 24 24
1986 16 16
1985 25 25
1984 32 32
1983 35 35
1982 41 41
1981 41 41
1980 51 51
1979 61 61
1978 42 42
1977 37 37
1976 48 48
1975 41 41
1974 58 58
1973 70 70
1972 83 83
1971 88 88
1970 107 107
1969 115 115
1968 59 59
1967 57 57
1966 56 56
1965 55 55
1964 57 57
1963 59 59
1962 58 58
1961 47 47
1960 45 45
1959 44 44
1958 34 34
1957 36 36
1956 35 35
1955 27 27
1954 21 21
1953 23 23
1952 18 18
1951 11 11
1950 12 12
1949 22 22
1948 23 23
1947 19 19
1946 14 14
1945 8 8
1944 17 17
1943 13 13
1942 10 10
1941 8 8
1940 10 10
1939 8 8
1938 15 15
1937 8 8
1936 12 12
1935 10 10
1934 13 13
1933 11 11
1932 19 19
1931 16 16
1930 23 23
1929 17 17
1928 16 16
1927 19 19
1926 24 24
1925 20 20
1924 16 16
1923 23 23
1922 19 19
1921 28 28
1920 32 32
1919 38 38
1918 30 30
1917 31 31
1916 46 46
1915 39 39
1914 42 42
1913 27 27
1912 27 27
1911 21 21
1910 29 29
1909 15 15
1908 19 19
1907 28 28
1906 21 21
1905 25 25
1904 21 21
1903 32 32
1902 24 24
1901 29 29
1900 34 34
1899 39 39
1898 46 46
1897 36 36
1896 38 38
1895 35 35
1894 40 40
1893 43 43
1892 47 47
1891 35 35
1890 41 41
1889 43 43
1888 29 29
1887 28 28
1886 21 21
1885 28 28
1884 18 18
1883 13 13
1882 13 13
1881 15 15
1880 8 8

Top States for Inga (2022)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
MN 5
100%