Narda
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "spice" or "sweet blossom".
Name Census estimates that about 507 living Americans carry the first name Narda. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Narda today is around 55 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Narda births was 1961 (32 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Narda. 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
507
~ 1 in 676,044 Americans
Peak year
1961
32 babies that year
Average age
55
years old
2004 SSA rank
#13,770
Tracked since 1937
Popularity
Narda: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Narda from the 1930s through to the 2000s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 179 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Narda 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 Narda during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Nardas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Texas, New York, California recorded the most babies named Narda, while California, New York, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 20 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Narda
The name Narda is a feminine given name of uncertain origin, with roots that can be traced back to various cultures and languages throughout history.
Some sources suggest that Narda may have originated from the Old Germanic name Nardus, which itself is derived from the Latin word "nardus," meaning "spikenard" – a fragrant herb mentioned in the Bible. This connection could potentially link the name to early Christian traditions or regions where Germanic languages were spoken.
Other theories propose that Narda may be a shortened form of the Italian name Bernarda, which originates from the Germanic name Bernhard, meaning "brave bear." This possibility ties the name to the Italian culture and language.
In ancient times, the name Narda appears to be relatively uncommon, with limited historical references. However, there are a few notable individuals who bore this name throughout history.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Narda can be found in the writings of the 13th-century Italian poet Dante Alighieri, who mentioned a character named Narda in his work "La Vita Nuova." This suggests that the name was in use in Italy during the medieval period.
Another notable figure was Narda Falchi (1572-1651), an Italian painter and engraver active during the Baroque era. She was known for her religious works and was one of the few female artists recognized in her time.
In the 18th century, Narda Ribbing (1707-1783) was a Swedish countess and writer who played a significant role in the Swedish Enlightenment movement. She was part of the literary salon culture and contributed to the promotion of women's education and intellectual pursuits.
Moving to the 19th century, Narda Pascua Gomez (1839-1914) was a Cuban poet and writer who was part of the literary movement known as the "Poets of Sorrow." Her works often explored themes of love, patriotism, and social issues.
More recently, Narda Lepes (1925-2015) was an Argentine chef, author, and television personality who was widely known for popularizing traditional Argentine cuisine and promoting the country's culinary heritage.
While the name Narda has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, these examples demonstrate its presence across various cultures, time periods, and fields, from literature and art to politics and cuisine.
People
Narda + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Narda as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Narda: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Narda?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 507 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Narda 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 676,044 US residents.
Is Narda a common name?
We classify Narda as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 656 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Narda most popular?
The single biggest year for Narda was 1961, when 32 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Narda is about 55 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Narda a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Narda 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.