A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Adda since 1880
Babies named Adda per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1888, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Adda's real moment was 1881.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 207 |
| 1890s | 160 |
| 1900s | 92 |
| 1910s | 160 |
| 1920s | 167 |
| 1930s | 69 |
| 1940s | 21 |
| 1950s | 6 |
| 1960s | 10 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 17 |
| 2010s | 33 |
| 2020s | 40 |
Meaning & origin
Adda is a rare vintage name that peaked in 1881 at its highest recorded usage, then declined throughout the 20th century. In 2025, it ranked 6,838th with a frequency of 1 in 100,454 births, making it an uncommon choice today. However, it has been rising in popularity since 2020, possibly reflecting a broader revival of short, soft, vintage names like Ada and Ida. Given its earliest recorded year of 1880, Adda belongs to the 1880s revival wave, though it has not yet seen widespread modern adoption. Its etymological connection to Adelaide (noble kind) gives it a solid Germanic heritage, but its precise origin remains uncertain, adding a touch of mystery. The name lacks strong ties to any specific U.S. region, as no top states have been recorded for it.
Adda likely arose as a medieval short form of Germanic names beginning with Adal- (meaning 'noble'), such as Adelaide. It was also used as a feminine variant of Ada, which itself derives from the same root. The name enjoyed modest popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, especially in the United States.
“Adda” around the world
Where Adda lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Sibling names for Adda
Names that share Adda's style, for a brother or sister.
