Fun Facts About the Name Idia
- 40 babies named Idia: U.S. records list 40 babies given the name Idia from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Idia Mean?
Idia is a feminine given name with two separate backgrounds. In Edo, the language of the Benin Kingdom in present-day Nigeria, Idia is the name of a celebrated queen mother. No reliable Edo etymology has been established for it, so its meaning is best given as uncertain. The title Iyoba, usually translated "Queen Mother," was created for Queen Idia, but it is a title rather than a translation of her personal name. A separate Greek name, usually spelled Idyia and sometimes rendered Idia, comes from the Greek word idyia, "knowing," and belongs to an Oceanid in classical myth. The Edo and Greek names are not known to be related.
Idia Name History & Origins
Queen Idia is remembered in Edo tradition as the mother of Oba Esigie, who ruled Benin from about 1504 to 1550. She supported his succession against a rival half-brother and advised him during his campaigns; the title Iyoba was created for her, and she was given a residence at Uselu. Benin court art includes ivory pendant masks associated with her image, worn by the Oba in ceremonies honoring the queen mother. The name is used in Nigeria, especially in Edo-speaking areas, though its transmission as a common given name is not well documented.
The Greek Idyia, sometimes spelled Idia, is an Oceanid, one of the daughters of Oceanus and Tethys listed in Hesiod's Theogony. She married Aeëtes, king of Colchis, and was the mother of Medea, Chalciope, and Absyrtus. In English the name is encountered mainly in translations and retellings of Greek myth rather than as a common given name, and its use is separate from the Edo name.
How Popular is the Name Idia?
Idia 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 1916. Its best rank was #3,707 in 1916.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #13,850 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #14,227 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1954 | #6,078 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1938 | #4,594 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1921 | #4,743 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1918 | #5,157 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1916 | #3,707 | 7 | 0.0007% |
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 Idia 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.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Idia's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Idia's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.