Inga is a female given name of Scandinavian origin. It comes from the Old Norse word "Inga," which means "belonging to Ing." Ing was a legendary hero and god in Norse mythology, and many names derived from him were quite popular among the Vikings.
The name Inga gained popularity during the Middle Ages when it was used by several historical figures. One of them is Saint Inga of Skiringssal, who lived in Norway around 1000 AD. She was known for her piety and generosity towards the poor, and she became revered as a saint after her death.
Today, Inga remains a popular name in Scandinavian countries like Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. It has also gained international recognition due to its appealing sound and simple spelling. Although it may not be as common as some other names, Inga still carries a strong connection to ancient Norse history and culture.
In recent years, the name Inga has been featured in popular media such as books and movies, which has contributed to its growing popularity worldwide. Despite this increased exposure, however, Inga retains an air of uniqueness and distinctiveness that sets it apart from other names. Overall, Inga is a compelling choice for parents seeking a strong yet uncommon name for their daughter with roots deep in Scandinavian mythology and history.
These statistics show that the name Inga experienced significant popularity fluctuations over time. The peak years for the name were 1969 with 115 births and 1957 with 36 births, indicating a resurgence of interest in the name nearly a century after its first mention in the records. However, starting around the late 1980s, the popularity of the name began to decline sharply, reaching as low as 9 births in 1997 and remaining relatively low throughout the early 2000s. Recent years show some slight increases, with 30 births in 2017 being the highest in recent times. Overall, Inga appears to have been a popular name at various points in history but has since become less common.