UK girl's name
Rada
Of Ukrainian origin, meaning "joyful" or "full of joy".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Rada is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rada popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5687, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 4 births.
This profile covers 18 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2011 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 18 living people in the UK are called Rada. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Rada ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 4 girls were registered as Rada.
- • About 18 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rada as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5687
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2011
4 births
Estimated living
18
2026
Meaning
What does Rada mean?
Rada is a feminine given name with origins tracing back to the Slavic languages. It is believed to be derived from the Old Slavic word "rad," meaning "joy" or "gladness." The name was particularly popular among the medieval Slavic communities in Central and Eastern Europe.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rada can be found in the 12th-century Velestino Inscription, a medieval Slavic text discovered in modern-day Greece. This inscription suggests that the name was already in use among Slavic populations in the Balkans during that period.
In the 13th century, a notable figure named Rada Crnojević was the daughter of the Serbian ruler Vukašin Mrnjavčević and the wife of the Ottoman-appointed ruler of Zeta, Đurađ Balšić. Her name appeared in various historical records and chronicles from that era.
Another historical figure bearing the name Rada was Rada Nedić (1899-1976), a Serbian painter and one of the pioneers of modern art in her country. Her works are celebrated for their unique blend of traditional Serbian motifs and contemporary artistic styles.
During the 14th century, the name Rada appeared in several religious texts and chronicles in various Slavic regions, further indicating its widespread use among Slavic communities at the time.
In the realm of literature, Rada Polić (1953-2011) was a renowned Croatian poet and writer. Her poetic works explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition, earning her critical acclaim and numerous literary awards.
Rada Gorbačova (1953-2010) was a prominent Russian human rights activist and journalist. She played a significant role in advocating for freedom of speech and civil liberties in the Soviet Union and later in Russia.
While the name Rada has roots in the Slavic languages, it has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, particularly among communities with Slavic cultural influences or connections. However, its historical origins and earliest recorded usages can be traced back to the medieval Slavic populations of Central and Eastern Europe.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rada over time
The chart below shows babies named Rada registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2011 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Rada, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rada by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rada was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #5111 | 7 | 2 |
| 2010s | #5097 | 11 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Rada
- Ruby 60,551
- Rebecca 45,764
- Rosie 35,558
- Rachel 19,034
- Rose 18,043
- Robyn 14,556
- Rosa 6,236
- Rhiannon 6,180
- Rachael 4,702
- Rebekah 4,395
- Rhianna 4,177
- Ruth 4,118
FAQ
Rada: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rada in the UK right now?
In 2023, Rada was ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Rada most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 4 babies registered as Rada in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rada?
Of Ukrainian origin, meaning "joyful" or "full of joy".
How many people are called Rada in the UK?
A total of 18 babies have been registered as Rada across the 5 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.