A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Sada since 1880
Babies named Sada per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1986, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Sada's real moment was 1889.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 50 |
| 1890s | 76 |
| 1900s | 51 |
| 1910s | 66 |
| 1920s | 90 |
| 1930s | 39 |
| 1940s | 11 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 54 |
| 1980s | 314 |
| 1990s | 215 |
| 2000s | 190 |
| 2010s | 102 |
| 2020s | 50 |
Meaning & origin
Sada is an uncommon name that has seen a modest revival in recent years. First recorded in 1880, it peaked in popularity in 1889. After a long period of low usage, the name has been rising since 2022, contributing to its revival in the 1880s decade category. In 2025, it ranked 7,885th with a 1-in-123,636 incidence among girls. The name is most frequently given in California. While its exact origin is debated, the two leading theories give Sada a cross-cultural appeal: the Japanese reading evokes purity, while the Arabic connection brings connotations of happiness. For parents seeking a short, uncommon name with a gentle sound and international flair, Sada offers a distinctive yet accessible choice.
The name Sada has multiple possible origins. In Japanese, it can be written with characters such as 貞 meaning 'chaste' or 'pure', or 定 meaning 'determine' or 'settle'. It may also be a short form of names beginning with Sada- like Sadako. Alternatively, Sada could be a variant of the Arabic name Saada, derived from the root s-'a-d (س ع د) meaning 'happiness, good fortune'. The name appears in various cultures, though its use in the United States has been rare, with occasional recordings since the 1880s.
Where Sada is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Sada” around the world
Where Sada lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Saada, Sadah
Sibling names for Sada
Names that share Sada's style, for a brother or sister.
