A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Mada since 1887
Babies named Mada per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Mada's real moment was 1891.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 11 |
| 1890s | 65 |
| 1900s | 50 |
| 1910s | 122 |
| 1920s | 119 |
| 1930s | 51 |
| 1940s | 42 |
| 1950s | 67 |
| 1960s | 15 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 5 |
Meaning & origin
Mada is a rare name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1887, with its peak year in 1891. After more than a century of minimal use, it has seen a slight resurgence since 2022. The name's origins are unclear, but it may be a variant of Madalene or a standalone coinage. With no one-in-N estimate due to its rarity, Mada remains a distinctive choice with a vintage feel.
Mada is a rare name of uncertain origin. It may be a diminutive or variant of names like Madalene (a form of Magdalene) or Madelyn, or possibly a phonetic spelling of the Japanese name Mada. In the United States, it saw a small number of births in the late 19th century, with a peak in 1891, and has experienced a revival since 2022.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Madah
Sibling names for Mada
Names that share Mada's style, for a brother or sister.
