Hadassa
A feminine Hebrew name derived from myrtle, a tree or shrub.
Name Census estimates that about 1,507 living Americans carry the first name Hadassa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Hadassa today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hadassa births was 2024 (130 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hadassa. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Hadassa is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 13 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.5K
~ 1 in 227,441 Americans
Peak year
2024
130 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2024 SSA rank
#1,604
Tracked since 1966
Popularity
Hadassa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Hadassa from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 621 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Hadassa remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hadassa by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Hadassa during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Hadassas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 9 states and territories. New York, New Jersey, Florida recorded the most babies named Hadassa, while Tennessee, Michigan, Maryland recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 91 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Hadassa
The name Hadassa has its origins in the ancient Persian language. It is derived from the Persian word "Hadasah" or "Hadas," which means "myrtle tree." The myrtle tree is a fragrant flowering plant native to the Mediterranean region and has held symbolic significance in various cultures throughout history.
The name Hadassa first gained prominence in the Bible's Book of Esther. In the biblical narrative, Hadassa was the Hebrew name of Queen Esther, the Jewish heroine who saved her people from persecution in ancient Persia. The book mentions that her Persian name was Esther, while her Hebrew name was Hadassa.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hadassa can be found in the Talmud, a central text of Rabbinic Judaism. The Talmud mentions a woman named Hadassa, who lived during the time of the Mishnah (around the 3rd century CE). This early reference suggests that the name was in use among Jewish communities in ancient times.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Hadassa. One such figure is Hadassa Oppenheim (1888-1973), an Israeli author and educator who played a significant role in the establishment of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Another notable Hadassa was Hadassa Ben-Itto (1926-2018), an Israeli politician and women's rights activist who served as a member of the Knesset (Israeli parliament) from 1959 to 1977.
In the realm of literature, Hadassa is the name of a character in the novel "The Source" by James A. Michener, published in 1965. The novel explores the history of the Jewish people and their connection to the land of Israel, and Hadassa is depicted as a strong and resilient woman living during the time of the Maccabean Revolt in the 2nd century BCE.
Another notable figure with the name Hadassa is Hadassa Margolese (born 1976), a Canadian author and educator known for her work in promoting Jewish literacy and education. She has written several books on Jewish culture and traditions, including "The Princess and the Treasure" and "The Princess and the Private Eye."
While the name Hadassa has Hebrew and Persian roots, it has also been adopted by various cultures and communities around the world, with slight variations in spelling and pronunciation. However, the core meaning and symbolism associated with the name remain rooted in its ancient origins and connection to the myrtle tree and its significance in Jewish and Persian traditions.
People
Hadassa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hadassa as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with H
Other first names starting with H with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Hadassa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hadassa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,507 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hadassa going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 227,441 US residents.
Is Hadassa a common name?
We classify Hadassa as "Rare". It ranks above 92.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,525 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hadassa most popular?
The single biggest year for Hadassa was 2024, when 130 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hadassa is about 13 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Hadassa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hadassa in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.