Fun Facts About the Name Idah
- 40 babies named Idah: U.S. records list 40 babies given the name Idah from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Idah Mean?
Idah is used mainly as a spelling variant of the feminine name Ida, which is Germanic in origin. The name is built from an element meaning "work" or "labor" - related to Old Norse íð, "deed, work" - and it is usually interpreted as "industrious" or "hardworking." A competing explanation connects it instead to a Germanic word for "woman," akin to Old Norse dís, "goddess, woman," so the older etymology is not entirely settled.
The spelling Idah also stands on its own in West Africa, especially in Nigeria, where Idah is the name of the town that served as the capital of the Igala kingdom. The meaning of the name in that setting is not well documented, and it should not be assumed to carry the Germanic sense of "industrious."
Idah Name History & Origins
Ida is an old Germanic name that spread across medieval Europe. One of its earliest recorded bearers was Ida, king of Bernicia in northern England in the sixth century - a man's name at that time. It later became predominantly a women's name, borne by figures such as Saint Ida of Herzfeld, an eighth-century Saxon noblewoman, and Ida of Boulogne, mother of Godfrey of Bouillon. The name continued in use in England and on the European continent after the Norman period.
The spelling Idah appears as an English-language variant of Ida and was in use on both sides of the Atlantic by the nineteenth century. Greek place names such as Mount Ida look similar but belong to a separate tradition and are not the source of the personal name.
In West Africa, Idah names a town on the Niger River in Kogi State, Nigeria, long the capital of the Igala kingdom. The same spelling is also found as a personal name in Nigeria and neighboring countries, where it developed independently of the European name.
How Popular is the Name Idah?
Idah has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1920. Its best rank was #1,812 in 1898.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | #4,164 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1919 | #5,132 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1916 | #3,706 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1915 | #3,989 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1914 | #3,879 | 5 | 0.0007% |
| 1912 | #3,173 | 5 | 0.0009% |
| 1898 | #1,812 | 5 | 0.0019% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Idah Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You like to use the pen or the needle (writing, fashion design etc). You are loving, compassionate, intuitive and humanitarian. Runs of luck, either good or bad, follow you. You are sympathetic, but at times might be touchy and oversensitive. You may have a gift for writing. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Idah's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Idah's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.