Valda is a girl's name of Scandinavian origin, derived from the Old Norse word 'valdr', which means "to rule" or "power". It is a less common name, but one that carries a strong and commanding presence. In some cases, Valda may also be considered an abbreviation for the German female given name Walburga, which is composed of the elements 'walha' meaning "foreign", and 'burg', signifying "fortress" or "stronghold".
The name Valda experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the years. While it was relatively common at the turn of the century with around 5-9 births per year between 1897 and 1909, it peaked dramatically during World War I, reaching a high of 42 births in 1916. Post-war, Valda's popularity continued to rise, with over 30 births per year from 1920 to 1930. However, it began a steady decline thereafter, dropping below 10 births per year by the late 1940s. By the 1960s and 70s, Valda's popularity was extremely low, with less than 8 births per year recorded. Overall, there were 1866 births of the name Valda over this period.