Holding steady.
Popularity of Hedda since 1900
Babies named Hedda per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1943, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Hedda's real moment was 1900.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 0 |
| 1920s | 17 |
| 1930s | 18 |
| 1940s | 93 |
| 1950s | 60 |
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 18 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 6 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Hedda is a Scandinavian short form of Hedvig, derived from the Old Norse element *hadu* meaning 'battle' or 'strife'. Despite its ancient roots, the name has never seen widespread use in the United States. Social Security data shows first recorded usage in 1900, with no rank in any year and a peak in that same year. The name's trajectory has remained remarkably stable, hovering just above the threshold of rarity. Its association with Ibsen's 1890 play 'Hedda Gabler' gives it a literary cachet, but it has not followed the pattern of many revival names. No U.S. state has recorded enough births for inclusion in the top states list, reflecting its status as a truly uncommon choice.
Hedda originated as a short form of various Germanic and Old Norse names beginning with the element *hadu* (meaning 'battle' or 'strife'), most commonly Hedvig. It has been used as an independent given name in Scandinavia since the 19th century, gaining some international recognition through Henrik Ibsen's 1890 play 'Hedda Gabler'.
“Hedda” around the world
Where Hedda lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Heddy
Sibling names for Hedda
Names that share Hedda's style, for a brother or sister.
