Aida means happy or returning — from the Arabic or possibly the Ethiopian. Verdi's Aida is one of the greatest operas ever composed — the Ethiopian princess enslaved in Egypt who chooses love over freedom. The name carries the most dramatic operatic love story through four letters. Two syllables of Verdi-level opera, Ethiopian-princess nobility, and the love that chose death over separation.
Arabic (happy/returning) or Ethiopian→Verdi's Aida
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Arabic / English / Bosnian roots
Aida comes from the Arabic or Ethiopian meaning happy or returning. Verdi's Aida (1871) is one of the greatest operas — an Ethiopian princess enslaved in Egypt who chooses love over freedom.
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First recorded
Earliest known use: Verdi's Aida (1871).
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Today
Aida remains a beloved choice, ranking #1266 in the US. 13,629 babies have been named Aida since 1881.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
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How popular is Aida?
2005peak year
Aida reached its widest reach during the early 2000s. In 2005, 243 babies received the name (ranked #1004). In the present decade it sits well outside the top 1,000 (around #1266), with about 185 babies given the name annually. Aida's usage has held roughly steady recently. The all-time total comes to roughly 13,629 registrations.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
Aida's Life Path 6 is the nurturer's number — operatic nurturing. People named Aida tend to be noble, dramatic, and gifted at choosing love even when it costs everything.
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Chooses love even when costly
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Verdi-opera
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Ethiopian-princess
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Four-letter dramatic
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Happy-returning
A1
I9
D4
A1
Sum: 15 → Life path 6
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Personality of Aida
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Nurturing heart
They notice when someone is struggling before anyone else.
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Creates warmth
Their circle is warmer for their presence.
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Strong morals
They know what's right and stand by it.
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Quietly selfless
They give and give, often without realising how much.
Every name has a homeland. Discover beautiful girl names rooted in cultures from around the world — each with full meanings, origin stories and pronunciation.