Ada
Ada is a girls' name of Turkish origin meaning “island, noble, decoration.” It ranked #219 in the United States in 2025. Ada means 'island' in Turkish, evoking the beautiful islands along Turkey's coastline.
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how do you pronounce Ada?
AH-dah
where does the name Ada come from?
Ada has several unrelated sources that converge on one spelling. In Germanic naming it is a short form of names beginning with the element adal or adel-, meaning noble, such as Adelaide and Adeline. In Turkish it is the ordinary word for island. It is also used as a Latinised form of the Hebrew Adah, meaning adornment, and among the Igbo of Nigeria Ada denotes a first daughter.
It is also a Germanic name meaning 'noble' and a Hebrew name meaning 'adornment.' Ada Lovelace, considered the first computer programmer, gives the name a legacy of innovation. It has become a top Turkish name.
how popular is this name?
Ada has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 130 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 16. It peaked at #33 in 1880, and ranked #219 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #219 |
| 2024 | #191 |
| 2023 | #179 |
| 2022 | #181 |
| 2021 | #180 |
| 2020 | #185 |
| 2019 | #208 |
| 2018 | #251 |
| 2017 | #319 |
| 2016 | #345 |
| 2010 | #538 |
| 1980 | #909 |
| 1970 | #668 |
| 1960 | #514 |
| 1950 | #369 |
| 1940 | #246 |
| 1930 | #185 |
| 1920 | #136 |
| 1910 | #94 |
| 1900 | #72 |
| 1890 | #51 |
| 1880 | #33 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Ada fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Ada
Ada Lovelace, daughter of Lord Byron, wrote what is generally recognised as the first algorithm intended for a machine in her 1843 notes on Babbage's Analytical Engine, and the Ada programming language was named for her. The Turkish name has a separate history: it was the 35th most popular girls' name in Turkey in 2016, and is unisex there rather than strictly feminine.
who are famous people named Ada?
- Ada Lovelace (British mathematician, first computer programmer)
- Ada Hegerberg (Norwegian footballer)
what are the nicknames and variants of Ada?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Ada?
what names go well with Ada?
Sibling names that share Ada's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Ada
What does the name Ada mean?
Ada means “island, noble, decoration”.
What is the origin of the name Ada?
Ada comes from the Turkish naming tradition. Related forms include Adah and Adda.
How popular is the name Ada?
Ada ranked #219 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1880, at #33, and it has spent 130 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Ada a boy or girl name?
Ada is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Ada?
Ada is pronounced AH-dah, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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