Hoda
An Arabic feminine name meaning "guiding path" or "right path".
Name Census estimates that about 492 living Americans carry the first name Hoda. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Hoda today is around 26 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hoda births was 1987 (20 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hoda. 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.
People living today
492
~ 1 in 696,655 Americans
Peak year
1987
20 babies that year
Average age
26
years old
2024 SSA rank
#12,613
Tracked since 1972
Popularity
Hoda: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Hoda from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 121 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1980s peak, Hoda remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hoda 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 Hoda during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Hodas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Hoda
The name Hoda has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "huda," which means "guidance" or "right path." The name is believed to have been in use since the early days of Islam, around the 7th century CE.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hoda can be found in the Quran, the sacred text of Islam. In the Quran, the word "huda" is used to refer to the guidance provided by Allah to humanity.
Throughout history, the name Hoda has been borne by several notable individuals. One of the earliest known figures with this name was Hoda bint al-Husayn (born around 670 CE), who was a renowned scholar and poet during the Umayyad Caliphate.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Hoda Shaarawi (1879-1947), an Egyptian feminist leader and activist who played a significant role in the women's liberation movement in Egypt. She was one of the founders of the Egyptian Feminist Union and worked tirelessly to improve the rights and status of women in her country.
In the 20th century, Hoda Barakat (born 1952) is a renowned Lebanese novelist and writer. She is widely regarded as one of the most influential contemporary Arabic writers and has received numerous literary awards for her works, which often explore themes of identity, exile, and the complexities of human relationships.
Hoda Kotb (born 1964) is an American television broadcaster and author. She is currently the co-anchor of the NBC News morning show "Today" and has gained widespread recognition for her warmth, resilience, and advocacy for various causes.
Hoda Rahmati (born 1977) is an Iranian actress and filmmaker. She has starred in several acclaimed Iranian films and has directed several short films, gaining recognition for her work in promoting women's rights and addressing social issues through her art.
The name Hoda has transcended its Arabic origins and has been embraced by various cultures and communities around the world. While its popularity may have ebbed and flowed over time, the name continues to resonate with its meaningful connotations of guidance and direction, making it a timeless choice for parents seeking a name with deep historical and cultural significance.
People
Hoda + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hoda 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
Hoda: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hoda?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 492 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hoda 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 696,655 US residents.
Is Hoda a common name?
We classify Hoda as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 508 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hoda most popular?
The single biggest year for Hoda was 1987, when 20 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hoda is about 26 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Hoda a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hoda 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.