Inga

An uncommon Old Norse pick — distinctive and rare.

Girl's nameOld NorseDeclining slightly Also a pet name
#8618 614in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A taxonomic genus within the family Fabaceae – small neotropical, tough-leaved, nitrogen-fixing trees and shrubs, many used as ornamentals.

Inga is a girl's baby name of Old Norse origin, a short form of names beginning with Ing- — referring to the Norse god Ing (also known as Freyr), whose name means 'the god Ing' or 'the Ing people.' Ing was associated with male virility and the fertility of the earth.

With over 4,100 recorded U.S. births, Inga has been a beloved Scandinavian name in American culture, particularly in communities with Norwegian and Swedish heritage. Its two-syllable simplicity and strong Norse mythology roots give it a clean, powerful character.

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Popularity Over Time

Inga was #7979 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #8618, but its charm endures.

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Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Inga
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s81
2010s210
2000s158
1990s171
1980s306
1970s635
1960s608
1950s261
1940s144
1930s135
1920s214
1910s330
1900s248
1890s400
1880s216

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(145 years, 18802024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Inga
YearBirthsRank
202412#8618
202311#9232
202223#5528
202123#5461
202012#8607
201913#8303
201821#5866
201730#4610
201620#6267
201522#5904
201424#5536
201321#6106
201220#6432
201121#6222
201018#7030
200918#7166
200811#10346
200717#7519
200626#5292
200514#8058

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Inga has two lives

Inga, the baby name
#8618girls
4,117 babies
Currently viewing
Inga, the pet name
#3834pet name
20 pets
View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (18802024) · Methodology