Ada is a popular choice in the UK, ranked #40 in 2024. There's a good chance they'll share their name with at least one classmate throughout school.
Origin & Meaning
Germanic — Noble; first computer programmer Ada Lovelace
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UK Rank 2024
#40
US Rank #193
About the Name Ada
Ada is holding steady in the rankings at #40. It reached its peak of #36 in 2022 and has maintained consistent levels since — the hallmark of a name with lasting rather than trend-driven appeal. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has broken into the UK top 100 on 7 occasions, signalling genuine mainstream interest.
Etymologically, Ada comes from Germanic, where it means "Noble; first computer programmer Ada Lovelace". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.
Ada is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it sits at #193 — notably more popular in the UK than across the Atlantic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Ada
Unlikely. With around 1,049 UK babies named Ada per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Ada in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Ada has held a stable position around #40 for several years. It reached its recorded peak of #36 in 2022 and has maintained consistent levels since — suggesting lasting rather than trend-driven appeal.
The name Ada has Germanic origins and means "Noble; first computer programmer Ada Lovelace". Names with clear etymological roots tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles and give children a story to tell about their name.
Notable people named Ada include: Ada Nicodemou — Ada Nicodemou (Greek: Άντα Νικοδήμου) is an Australian actress of Greek Cypriot descent.; Ada Yonath — Ada E.; Ada Limón — Ada Limón is an American poet..
Ada appears in the US top 500 at #193 in 2024 — moderately popular in America, though less so than in the UK.
1,049
UK babies named Ada (2024)
~0.0
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.5
In a school of 600
→ Stable
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Ada
Likely around 1 other Ada in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Ada
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Ada Nicodemou (Greek: Άντα Νικοδήμου) is an Australian actress of Greek Cypriot descent. She began her acting career in 1994 in TV serial Heartbreak High as Katerina Ioannou.
Ada Coleman was head bartender at the Savoy Hotel in London for 23 years, the only woman to have held that position. While working at the Savoy, she invented the "hanky panky", a distinctive variation on the sweet martini cocktail.
Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, also known as Ada Lovelace, was an English mathematician and writer chiefly known for work on Charles Babbage's proposed mechanical general-purpose computer, the analytical engine. She was the first to recognise the machine had applications beyond pure calculation.
Ada of Caria (Ancient Greek: Ἄδα) (fl. 377 – 326 BC) was a member of the House of Hecatomnus (the Hecatomnids) and ruler of Caria during the mid-4th century BC, first as Persian Satrap and later as Queen under the auspices of Alexander III (the Great) of Macedon.