Vada
Vada is a girl's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Famous ruler, rule, or knowledge.
Origin and history
Vada is a given name of Old High German origin, derived from elements meaning rule or knowledge. It was moderately common in the early 20th century in the United States and has seen a mild resurgence in recent years. The name gained widespread pop-culture recognition as the lead character's name in the 1991 movie My Girl.
Popularity in the United States
12,927 babies in the United States have been named Vada since 1880. It ranks #1413 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #821.
States where it is most popular
- TX (12 %)
- KY (6.8 %)
- WV (6.3 %)
- OH (5.9 %)
- OK (5.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 222 |
| 1890-1900 | 574 |
| 1900-1910 | 775 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,682 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,877 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,263 |
| 1940-1950 | 743 |
| 1950-1960 | 464 |
| 1960-1970 | 272 |
| 1970-1980 | 121 |
| 1980-1990 | 62 |
| 1990-2000 | 219 |
| 2000-2010 | 588 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,173 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,892 |
Famous people named Vada
- Vada Pinson: Baseball player, Coach
Fun facts
- The name experienced a noticeable spike in public awareness following the 1991 hit film My Girl, which featured protagonist Vada Sultenfuss.
- Vada originally gained traction in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States before fading and re-emerging decades later.