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Ada

Girl name · 770 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Ada: 770 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 88 births in 2020.

Ada is a name with Germanic roots, derived from the element *adal* meaning “noble,” and also appears as a Hebrew name meaning “adornment.” Its most celebrated bearer is Ada Lovelace, the 19th-century mathematician widely regarded as the world’s first computer programmer, whose work inspired the programming language Ada. The name also echoes in places like Ada, Ohio, and Ada, Oklahoma, though these are more likely named after individuals than the root itself. A lesser-known variant is Adah, used in the Old Testament, while Ada remains a timeless choice that bridges Victorian elegance and modern simplicity—still popular in Scotland today for its soft, classic sound.

Girl 18 of 52 years

Peak year
202088 babies
Latest (2025)
#5176 babies
Total births
770since 2008
5-year trend
▲ 38%vs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2020 · 88
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).