Ada
Girl name · #219 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Ada? In official American birth records, Ada has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 1,401 baby girls were named Ada, placing it at #219 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #355, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,285 girls born in 2025 was named Ada.
The 145-year story
Ada first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 652 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1918, when 1,943 girls were named Ada — good for #123 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Ada per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ada against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ada in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ada is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Ada is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ada is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Ada is most common in ND (3.7 per 1,000), ME (3.2 per 1,000), IA (2.3 per 1,000), KS (2.3 per 1,000), WI (2.3 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 1.1 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Ada is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Ada
Statistically, parents drawn to Ada tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Vera, Lena, Lola, Eva, and Leona.
VeraLenaLolaEvaLeonaMabelMaeOpal
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ada | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,401 | #219 |
| 2024 | 1,575 | #191 |
| 2023 | 1,652 | #179 |
| 2022 | 1,657 | #181 |
| 2021 | 1,650 | #180 |
| 2020 | 1,560 | #185 |
| 2019 | 1,467 | #208 |
| 2018 | 1,302 | #251 |
| 2017 | 1,020 | #319 |
| 2016 | 968 | #345 |
| 2015 | 922 | #355 |
| 2014 | 871 | #374 |
| 2013 | 703 | #435 |
| 2012 | 634 | #484 |
| 2011 | 606 | #489 |
| 2010 | 544 | #538 |
| 2009 | 537 | #570 |
| 2008 | 529 | #585 |
| 2007 | 466 | #638 |
| 2006 | 404 | #703 |
| 2005 | 329 | #789 |
| 2004 | 306 | #820 |
| 2003 | 220 | #1038 |
| 2002 | 214 | #1014 |
| 2001 | 193 | #1096 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Ada?
In official American birth records, the name Ada first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 652 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Ada a popular girl name?
Ada ranked #219 among girls in 2025 with 1,401 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #355.
When was the name Ada most popular?
Ada peaked in 1918, when 1,943 American girls received the name (ranked #123 that year). Since 1918 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ada?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,285 newborn American girls was named Ada. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.