Arda is a name of Turkish origin, derived from the ancient Turkic word "arda," which means "edge" or "limit." It has been used as a given name in Turkey for centuries, often given to boys.
The name Arda has gained some international recognition due to its association with J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. In his works, Arda is the name of the world where the stories take place, created by the god Eru Ilúvatar and the first Valar. However, this usage is not related to the Turkish origin of the name.
Historically, there are several notable figures with the name Arda in Turkey. One of the most famous is Arda Wğn (1936-2018), a prominent Turkish poet and writer known for his avant-garde poetry and novels. His works have been translated into numerous languages and have had a significant impact on Turkish literature.
In Turkish culture, the name Arda has traditionally been considered masculine, but it can also be used as a female name in some cases. It is typically pronounced /ˈarda/ with the stress on the first syllable.
Overall, Arda is a unique and culturally significant name with a rich history in Turkey, carrying the meaning of a boundary or limit. Its association with Tolkien's mythological world has also added to its intrigue and international appeal.
The name Arda has seen a varied level of popularity in the United States over the past few decades, with a total of 503 births recorded between 1996 and 2023.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the number of babies named Arda fluctuated significantly. The name was given to only five newborns in 1996, but this number nearly doubled to seven births each in 1998 and 1999. The trend continued with eleven births in 2000, followed by a peak of fourteen babies named Arda in 2002.
However, the popularity of the name began to decline after 2003, with only nine births recorded that year. This downward trend persisted until 2005 when there were eighteen births, marking a significant increase compared to previous years.
The years between 2006 and 2011 showed varying levels of popularity for the name Arda, with high points at forty-one births in 2006 and twenty-nine births in 2009. However, these figures were not sustained consistently, as seen by lower birth numbers in subsequent years.
Since 2012, the popularity of the name Arda has remained relatively stable, with an average of around twenty to thirty births per year. The most recent data available shows that there were nineteen births in both 2019 and 2020, followed by a slight increase to twenty-one births in 2021 and fourteen births in 2022.
Overall, while the popularity of the name Arda has varied over time, it has consistently remained present among newborns in the United States throughout this period.