Ada

At a Glance: Name: Ada – Meaning: noble (or 'ornament, ' dual root) – Origin: Germanic or Hebrew (dual origin) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: AY-dah

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Ada is pronounced AY-dah, and it has a bold, vintage feel that's stuck around for generations. You may have heard that Ada simply means 'noble' — but that's only half the story: the name traces to both Germanic and Hebrew roots, and the Hebrew side (Adah) points to 'ornament,' so there isn't just one accepted meaning behind it. It's a name with real history and a bit of an independent streak.

Meaning & Origin of Ada

Meaning: Noble (or 'ornament, ' dual root).

Origin: Germanic or Hebrew (dual origin).

A common claim: commonly said to simply mean 'noble' Actually: this only covers the Germanic root — Ada is equally traced to Hebrew Adah ('ornament'), so 'noble' isn't the only accepted meaning.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Ada

Phonetic: AY-dah   IPA: /ˈeɪdə/

Popularity of Ada

Ada peaked in 1880, when it ranked #33 with 652 baby girls given the name. By 2024 it had settled at #193, with 1,563 girls given the name that year.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Ada Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Ada, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Imelda
• Walter
• Albert
• Alice
• Emerie
• Frida

FAQ

What does the name Ada mean?

Noble (or ‘ornament, ‘ dual root). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ada)

How do you pronounce Ada?

Ada is pronounced AY-dah (IPA: /ˈeɪdə/).

Is Ada a popular name right now?

Ada peaked at #33 in 1880 and is ranked #193 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

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