Signa
A girl's name of Old Norse origin with 411 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
a female given name
Signa is a girl's baby name of Old Norse origin, a Scandinavian feminine name derived from the Norse element sigr meaning 'victory.' Related to Sigrid and Signe, it carries the warrior spirit of Norse naming tradition.
Signa has a clean, minimal sound that feels both ancient and strikingly modern. In Scandinavia it has centuries of use; in the United States it appears as a rare and distinctive import — a name that feels genuinely fresh while carrying deep Nordic roots.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Signa is a girl's name with over a century of recorded use (1889–1993). Its Old Norse roots connect it to a broader naming tradition, but in practice, American usage often reshapes names — adding nicknames, shifting pronunciation, and building new associations that diverge from the original cultural context.
With 411 total births, Signa exists at the edges of the American naming landscape — a name known primarily to the families who carry it, giving it an intensely personal character.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Signa has 49+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1889.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6 | — |
| 1970s | 6 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 51 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 32 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 31 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 65 | ▼ |
| 1910s | 100 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 37 | ▼ |
| 1890s | 78 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 5 | — |
The Story of Signa
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1916, Signa is a name steeped in history. Girls named Signa are most likely born between 1906 and 1926.
How rare is Signa?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Signa is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1889, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1910s with 100 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Signa by the numbers
- Would fill 9 school buses
- Meeting one Signa per day would take 1.1 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(49 years, 1889–1993)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 6 | #13212 |
| 1970 | 6 | #7858 |
| 1956 | 6 | #5868 |
| 1955 | 6 | #5744 |
| 1954 | 6 | #5667 |
| 1953 | 9 | #4194 |
| 1952 | 7 | #4860 |
| 1951 | 9 | #3971 |
| 1950 | 8 | #4268 |
| 1947 | 7 | #4714 |
| 1946 | 9 | #3636 |
| 1942 | 8 | #3693 |
| 1940 | 8 | #3475 |
| 1937 | 7 | #3754 |
| 1936 | 9 | #3075 |
| 1935 | 7 | #3705 |
| 1930 | 8 | #3621 |
| 1927 | 5 | #5512 |
| 1926 | 6 | #4775 |
| 1925 | 9 | #3622 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Signa a boy's or girl's name?
When was Signa most popular?
How popular is the name Signa?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1889–1993