Ida

Ida is a medieval first name that was already used at that time both as an independent name and as a short form for various Germanic names beginning with 'Id-', such as Ideburga or Iduberga. The name element 'id' can be derived from Old High German itis or Old Saxon.

What does the name Ida mean?

Ida is a medieval first name that was already used at that time both as an independent name and as a short form for various Germanic names beginning with 'Id-', such as Ideburga or Iduberga. The name element 'id' can be derived from Old High German itis or Old Saxon idis meaning 'woman, virgin,' and also from Old Norse ið (also ídh) meaning 'work, activity, diligence.' When considering Ida as an independent first name derived from the name element 'id,' it means 'the woman' and 'the virgin' or also 'the worker' and 'the diligent one.' The name Ida spread in the Middle Ages and the early modern period, especially due to the veneration of saints bearing the name: the founder of the monastery and nun Iduberga of Nivelles († 652), the church founder Ida of Herzfeld († 825), and the recluse Ida of Toggenburg († 1226). The name Ida is particularly common in German-speaking and Scandinavian or Nordic regions (in Iceland, it is spelled Ída). In Germany, Ida was already one of the most popular girls' names at the beginning of the 20th century, but then fell out of fashion. Around the turn of the millennium, when the general trend favored short and old German names, the name Ida was able to significantly regain its popularity. Today, Ida has been among the most frequently given girls' names in Germany for years. Variants of Ida include Idda, Ide, Idis, Iken, Ita, Itha, and Itta. The male counterpart to Ida is the name Ido.

Where does the name Ida come from?

Etymology The name Ida has a Germanic background. It can be traced back to the Old High German word itis (Old Saxon idis), meaning 'woman' or 'virgin,' and also to the Old Norse word ið meaning 'work, activity, diligence.' Old High German Old Norse Old Saxon

How do you pronounce Ida?

Sound & pronunciation of Ida: The name Ida is two syllables and open-ended. In German pronunciation, it is usually pronounced as 'I-da' [ˈiːda], with the first syllable having a long 'i' that carries a bright sound. The open 'a' at the end provides a gentle conclusion. Ida appears simple and timeless - friendly, clear, and present.

When is the name day of Ida?

The name day for Ida is on February 24 (Ida of Hohenfels), April 13 (Ida of Boulogne, Ida of Löwen), May 8 (Iduberga of Nivelles), September 4 (Saint Ida of Herzfeld), November 3 (Ida of Toggenburg), November 26 (Ida of Cologne), and December 12 (Ida of Nivelles).

Popularity

In Germany, the girls' name Ida was already regularly represented in statistics in the late 19th century, mostly ranking between the top 30 and top 50 from 1880 to 1905. Thus, it was early on part of the extended top group of the most popular first names. In the 1910s and 1920s, the name remained stable, usually between the top 40 and top 90. A particular highlight occurred in 1928 with a ranking in the top 20.

Nicknames & pet names

Adi / Ai / Didi / Frida / Id / Idachen / Idaho / Idalein / Idaniedchen / Idchen / Idda / Iddi / Ide / Idele / Idi / Idilein / Idken / Idl / Ido / Idona / Idosch / Idoschka / Idschen / Idschi / Idsi / Idus / Ila / Ina / Isa / Iwa / Izi

Similar first names

Famous people

• The Flowers of Little Ida (fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen)
• Ida Alstad (Norwegian handball player)
• Ida Ballmann (theater actress from Germany)
• Ida Bieler (American violinist)
• Ida Botti Scifoni (Canadian artist)
• Ida Bull (Norwegian historian)
• Ida Buse (theater actress)
• Ida Corr (singer)
• Ida Ehre (actress, director, and theater manager)
• Ida Engberg (DJ)
• Ida Frohnmeyer (German writer)
• Ida Gerhardt (Dutch poet)
• Ida Helen Ogilvie (geologist from the USA)
• Ida James (American singer and actress)
• Ida Jenbach (Austrian writer)
• Ida K. Laurel (singer from Russia)
• Ida Kaminska (British actress)
• Ida Kavafian (American musician)
• Ida Kohlmeyer (American artist)
• Ida Köhne (painter from Germany)