Ada
/AY-də/
Ada is a girl name of Germanic origin, meaning Noble, or adornment.
- GenderGirl
- OriginGermanic
- StyleModern
- Syllables2
- US rank#172
What does Ada mean?
Noble, or adornment
Ada is usually a short form of Germanic names beginning with adal-, "noble", such as Adelaide or Adelheid. A separate Hebrew name Adah, meaning "adornment", appears in Genesis and has merged with it in use.
The story behind the name
Ada Lovelace, the daughter of Lord Byron, worked with Charles Babbage on the Analytical Engine and in 1843 published notes containing what is generally recognised as the first published algorithm intended for a machine. She also grasped, well before anyone else, that such a machine could manipulate symbols and not merely numbers.
The Ada programming language, commissioned by the US Department of Defense, is named for her.
The name was common in the Victorian era, disappeared for most of the twentieth century, and has returned since 2010 with the rest of the short vintage names.
Notable people named Ada
- Ada Lovelace, mathematician
- Ada Yonath, Nobel laureate in chemistry
How popular is Ada?
Popularity in the United States
Ada has been given to 99,151 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 1910s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.
About 1 in 1,066 babies born in the United States were given this name in the most recent year on record.
Popularity in France
Ada has been given to 1,251 babies in France since 1900, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.
Popularity in Spain
There are 4,102 people called Ada living in Spain, with an average age of 17.9.
Variants and related names
Other spellings: Adah, Adda
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Start swiping - it's freeFrequently asked questions about Ada
What does the name Ada mean?
Ada means Noble, or adornment. It is of Germanic origin.
Is Ada a boy's or a girl's name?
Ada is most often given to girls.
How do you pronounce Ada?
Ada is pronounced AY-də.
How popular is the name Ada?
Ada has been given to 99,151 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 1910s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.
What are other spellings of Ada?
Common variants include Adah, Adda.