Names Honoring Women in Tech: Ada, Grace, and Beyond
Names Honoring Women in Tech: Ada, Grace, and Beyond
The Forgotten Pioneers
In 1843, Ada Lovelace wrote what is now recognized as the first computer algorithm. In 1952, Grace Hopper invented the first compiler. In 1969, Margaret Hamilton's software got astronauts to the moon. Katherine Johnson's calculations brought them back.
Ask most people to name a famous tech pioneer, and they'll say Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, maybe Elon Musk. Ask them to name a female tech pioneer, and many will draw a blank. This isn't because women haven't contributed to technology—they fundamentally created it. It's because their contributions have been systematically overlooked.
Naming a child after these women is a small act of historical correction. Every time someone asks 'Where did you get the name Ada?' you get to tell the story of the woman who envisioned computing before computers existed. Every 'Grace' becomes an opportunity to mention the Admiral who made software development possible.
This guide explores names honoring women in technology—from the 19th-century visionaries to the modern leaders pushing boundaries today. These aren't just beautiful names; they're tributes to women who changed the world.
Why Honor Women in Tech
The case for naming after forgotten pioneers.
Historical Correction
Women's contributions to computing have been systematically erased or attributed to men. The ENIAC programmers (all women) were initially credited as 'refrigerator ladies' who merely operated the machine they actually programmed. Naming after these women helps restore their rightful place in history.
Role Models Matter
Girls who know about women in tech are more likely to pursue tech careers. A daughter named Ada might learn her namesake's story and see herself in it. Names become entry points to role models.
Beautiful Names, Meaningful Connections
These aren't compromises between meaning and aesthetics. Ada, Grace, Margaret—these are beautiful names that happen to honor extraordinary women. You get both.
Conversation Starters
Every 'What an unusual name!' or 'Where did you get that?' becomes an opportunity for education. Your child becomes an ambassador for women's tech history.
The Computing Pioneers
The women who built the foundation of computing.
Ada Lovelace (1815-1852)
- Full name: Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace
- Contribution: First computer algorithm, vision of computing beyond calculation
- Name analysis: 'Ada' is short, elegant, vintage-modern. Rising in popularity but not overused.
- Why it works: Sounds timeless, works professionally, meaningful story.
Grace Hopper (1906-1992)
- Full name: Grace Brewster Murray Hopper (Rear Admiral)
- Contribution: Invented the compiler, pioneered COBOL, coined 'debugging'
- Name analysis: 'Grace' is a virtue name, eternally popular, elegant.
- Why it works: Classic name that never goes out of style, beautiful meaning.
Margaret Hamilton (1936-present)
- Contribution: Apollo 11 software, coined 'software engineering'
- Name analysis: 'Margaret' offers endless nicknames—Maggie, Meg, Greta, Daisy.
- Why it works: Vintage revival, professional weight, nickname flexibility.
Katherine Johnson (1918-2020)
- Contribution: NASA calculations for Apollo missions, 'Hidden Figures' subject
- Name analysis: 'Katherine' is timeless, Kate for casual.
- Why it works: Royal classic, recognizable story (the movie helped).
The Hidden Figures
Women whose contributions were overlooked or attributed to others.
The ENIAC Women
Six women programmed the first general-purpose computer:
- Jean (Jennings Bartik) - Elegant, simple, French classic.
- Betty (Snyder Holberton) - Vintage, Elizabeth nickname, charming.
- Ruth (Lichterman Teitelbaum) - Biblical, strong, classic.
- Kay (McNulty) - Short, punchy, works alone or as Katherine nickname.
- Marlyn (Wescoff Meltzer) - Vintage glamour, Marilyn variant.
- Frances (Bilas Spence) - Sophisticated, French elegance.
Hedy Lamarr (1914-2000)
- Contribution: Co-invented frequency-hopping spread spectrum (basis of WiFi, Bluetooth)
- Name analysis: 'Hedy' is unusual but pronounceable, Hollywood glamour.
- Also consider: Her birth name was Hedwig—Harry Potter owl now.
Radia Perlman (1951-present)
- Contribution: Invented spanning tree protocol, 'Mother of the Internet'
- Name analysis: 'Radia' is unusual, radiant root, distinctive.
- Why it works: Unique without being unpronounceable, beautiful meaning.
Modern Tech Leaders
Contemporary women shaping technology.
Tech Executives
- Susan (Wojcicki, YouTube CEO) - Classic, 'lily' meaning, underused.
- Sheryl (Sandberg, Meta COO) - 1950s glamour, 'dear' meaning.
- Marissa (Mayer, former Yahoo CEO) - Latin elegance, 'of the sea.'
- Ginni (Rometty, former IBM CEO) - Virginia nickname, executive power.
- Safra (Catz, Oracle CEO) - Hebrew, 'scribe,' distinctive.
Tech Founders
- Whitney (Wolfe Herd, Bumble) - English, 'white island,' founder energy.
- Anne (Wojcicki, 23andMe) - Classic simplicity, biotech pioneer.
- Melanie (Perkins, Canva) - Greek, 'dark,' design disruptor.
- Reshma (Saujani, Girls Who Code) - Sanskrit, 'silky,' advocacy leader.
AI and Emerging Tech
- Fei-Fei (Li, AI researcher) - Chinese, 'luxuriant,' ImageNet creator.
- Daphne (Koller, Coursera) - Greek, 'laurel,' education revolutionizer.
- Cynthia (Breazeal, robotics) - Greek, 'moon goddess,' social robots pioneer.
Scientists and Engineers
Women across STEM fields.
Computer Science
- Barbara (Liskov, Turing Award) - Greek, 'foreign,' substitution principle.
- Frances (Allen, Turing Award) - Latin, 'from France,' compiler optimization.
- Shafi (Goldwasser, cryptography) - Hebrew, 'rabbit,' zero-knowledge proofs.
Mathematics
- Emmy (Noether, abstract algebra) - German, 'whole,' mathematical revolution.
- Sophie (Germain, number theory) - Greek, 'wisdom,' prime numbers.
- Maryam (Mirzakhani, Fields Medal) - Persian, 'beloved,' first woman Fields winner.
Physics and Space
- Marie (Curie, radioactivity) - Classic, two Nobel Prizes.
- Sally (Ride, first US woman in space) - Hebrew, 'princess,' astronaut pioneer.
- Mae (Jemison, first Black woman in space) - Short, sweet, stellar.
Engineering
- Emily (Roebling, Brooklyn Bridge) - Latin, 'rival,' engineering completion.
- Edith (Clarke, electrical engineering) - Old English, 'prosperous in war.'
- Lillian (Gilbreth, industrial engineering) - Latin, 'lily,' efficiency pioneer.
Making the Connection
How to share the name's significance.
The Story-Ready Approach
Have a brief version ready: 'She's named Ada after Ada Lovelace, who wrote the first computer program in the 1840s—before computers existed.' People love this story. It's surprising and memorable.
The Picture Book Pipeline
Children's books exist about many of these women: 'Ada Twist, Scientist,' 'Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code,' 'Hidden Figures.' Your child can grow up knowing their namesake's story.
The Anniversary Connection
Ada Lovelace Day is in October. Grace Hopper's birthday is in December. You can celebrate your child's namesake annually, building the connection over time.
The Non-Preachy Approach
You don't have to evangelize constantly. The name works on its own merits. The tech connection is a bonus for those who ask, not a mandatory lecture for everyone you meet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is Ada too obviously a tech name?
In tech circles, yes—everyone knows Ada Lovelace and the Ada programming language. Outside tech, most people just think it's a beautiful vintage name. The tech connection is known to those who know; invisible to everyone else. Best of both worlds.
Q2: What about lesser-known women in tech?
The lesser-known the figure, the more work you'll do explaining. 'Radia' (Perlman) requires more context than 'Grace' (Hopper). If you want the story to be easily accessible, stick with the famous figures. If you want a unique name and don't mind explaining, explore the hidden figures.
Q3: How do I explain the name's significance without sounding preachy?
Wait until asked. When someone says 'What a lovely name,' you can briefly mention the origin: 'Thanks! She's named after Ada Lovelace, an early computing pioneer.' Short, informative, not a lecture. Let them ask follow-up questions if interested.
Q4: Can I use these names if I'm not in tech?
Absolutely. You don't have to be in tech to admire women who changed the world. And these are beautiful names regardless of their connections. Non-tech parents use them all the time without knowing the history.
Q5: What if my daughter doesn't go into tech?
Then she'll have a beautiful name with an interesting story. The connection isn't about predicting careers—it's about honoring remarkable women. Your daughter can become anything and still appreciate her namesake's contributions.
Names That Changed the World
When Ada Lovelace wrote her algorithm in 1843, she imagined machines that could compose music and manipulate symbols beyond pure calculation. She was right—but she died at 36, never seeing her vision realized. When Grace Hopper invented the compiler, she made software development accessible to humans rather than just mathematicians. When Katherine Johnson calculated Apollo trajectories, she got astronauts home.
These women changed everything. They deserve to be remembered not just in history books but in the names we give our children—living tributes that walk through the world, prompting questions and sparking stories.
Name your daughter Ada, and every time someone asks about it, you get to tell the story of the woman who imagined computing before computers existed. Name her Grace, and you honor the Admiral who made software possible. Name her Margaret or Katherine, and you connect her to the women who reached for the moon.
These aren't just beautiful names. They're acts of historical memory. They're small corrections to systematic erasure. They're seeds planted in the next generation, carrying forward the legacies of women who deserved more recognition than they received.
Find your daughter's namesake on SoulSeed—where extraordinary women get the recognition they deserve.
