Ada is a simple and sophisticated first name. Though succinct in composition, Ada is replete in vintage charm and modern relevance. Ada McGrath was the name of the main character in The Piano, and Ada is also the protagonist of a mononymous 20th-century film. Keep reading to learn more about this exciting baby name.
Meaning of the name Ada:
German: Nobel, nobility
Hebrew: Adornment
Igbo: First daughter
Turkish: Island
Origin of the name Ada:
Ada originates from the Old Germanic root adal or adel (meaning “noble”). It is also the diminutive or short form of classic names like Adelaide and Adelina. The oldest version of the name is the Old German Adalheidis.
Ada has several separate etymologies from other languages. In Hebrew, the name Ada comes from the Old Hebrew word Adah (meaning “adornment”). The name Ada means “first daughter” in Igbo (the language of the largest ethnic group in Nigeria). And in Turkish, Ada means “island.”
Symbolism of the name Ada:
Ada derives from the Old Germanic words for “noble” or “nobility.” Symbols for medieval German nobility include the imperial eagle and the heraldic coat of arms. In some Nigerian families, Ada is a customary nickname for the firstborn daughter. For Turkish speakers, the symbol for Ada is the island palm tree.
Style of the name Ada:
Classic
Gender of the name Ada:
Ada is a girl's name.
Pronunciation of the name Ada:
AY-dah
Number of syllables in the name Ada:
Two
Emotion evoked from the name Ada:
The name Ada evokes feelings of simplicity and refinement.
Alternative spellings for the name Ada:
- Áda
- Aada
- Adah
- Aydah
Nicknames for the name Ada:
- Addy
- Addie
- Addi
- Ade
Popularity of the name Ada:
According to the Social Security Administration index, Ada was the 184th most popular baby name for girls in 2020. Ada has ranked among the top 500 baby girl names since 2011.
Related names for the name Ada:
Great middle names for Ada and their meanings:
- Aurelia (golden)
- Charlotte (free man, strong, vigorous)
- Fernanda (brave voyager)
- Georgette (farmer)
- Juniper (youthful, evergreen)
- Mae (pearl)
- Ophelia (helper)
- Sinclair (bright saint)
- Teagan (poet)
- Verity (truth)
Famous people with the name Ada:
- Ada Sara Adler (scholar)
- Ada Scott Brown (singer)
- Ada Louise Comstock (educator)
- Ada King Lovelace (computer programmer)
- Ada Jane Jones (singer)
- Ada Annie Lawson (explorer)
- Ada Emilia Moldovan (handball player)
- Ada Holly Shissler (historian)
- Ada Mae Vaughn (actress)
- Ada “Ace” Vélez (boxer)
Ada in popular culture:
- Ada Gillis (main character of the 1960s film Ada)
- Ada McGrath (main character in The Piano)
- Ada Smith (main character in the book The War That Saved My Life)
- Ada Veen (main character of Vladimir Nabokov's Ada or Ardor: A Family Chronicle)