Golda

Golda is a feminine given name of Hebrew origin. It is commonly associated with the Hebrew or Yiddish word for gold, rendering the name as “golden” or “precious.” The name is used primarily within Jewish communities but has also appeared in broader contexts, including in the United States and Israel.

The name is best known for Golda Meir (1898–1978), born Golda Mabovitch in Kiev. An immigrant to the United States, she became an active Zionist organizer before moving to what would become Israel in 1921. Meir held several government roles, including labor minister and foreign minister, and she led Israel as prime minister from 1969 to 1974. Her tenure encompassed the latter stages of Israel’s early statehood and the Yom Kippur War of 1973.

Beyond Meir, Golda has been used as a given name in Jewish and some secular communities. It remains relatively uncommon outside those contexts. Variants or related forms appear in different languages, but Golda is most widely recognized in its standard English spelling.