Ava

Updated: October 20, 2023 by Stephanie Graham

Since the early 21st century, Ava has become one of the most popular baby names for the female gender. However, the use of Ava as a given name dates back several millennia. For example, Saint Ava is a Roman Catholic saint and the daughter of Pepin II of Aquitaine. Cured of blindness at a young age, she became a Benedictine nun, and her current feast day is April 29.

The various origins of the name may have also inspired alternate spellings and nicknames. For example, Aviana is an elaboration of the name most closely related to the Latin origin. The name Avelina most likely comes from the German origin, and it is one of the more popular diminutives or nicknames found in Eastern Europe. Some analysts attribute the name's dramatic rise in popularity to its recent appearance in popular culture. Find out more about the popular baby name, Ava.

Meaning and Origin of the name Ava:

Ava is a sweet girl's name of varying origins. The Hebrew origin of Ava gives it the meaning “life” or “breath.” The Latin meaning of Ava is “bird.” In Persian, Ava means “voice” or “sound.” And in German, Ava means “desire,” “water,” or “island.”

In the English language, Ava is a variant of the name Eve. It derives from an ancient Hebrew name Havva that means “to breathe” or “to live.” The name Ava became popular for girls throughout the English-speaking world during the early 21st century.

For Romance languages, the name Ava may derive from the Latin term avis (meaning “bird”). The Persian Āvā comes from a musical term that means “voice” or “sound.” Finally, the German version may derive from a Proto-Germanic root that meant “desire,” “island,” or “water.”

Symbolism of the name Ava:

In the English-speaking world, one of the most popularly accepted origins of the name Ava is the Hebrew term chayah (meaning “to live”). Anthropologists and etymologists link ancient Semitic languages like Hebrew with ancient Egyptian, and this culture used the ankh to symbolize “life.” Adaptations of the ankh symbol appear in Coptic Christianity, Neo-Pagan tattoos, and within goth subculture. The ankh is also an important symbol of African cultural identity.

Nicknames for the name Ava:

Ava is a very short name, and there really is only one option for a nickname with a few variations on spelling. You can create some fun, personalized nicknames for your daughter, such as Avi-poo or Avasaurus Rex. Take a look at the list below for nickname options. Maybe you'll find some inspiration to create your own nickname.

Avie
Avy
Avi
Av
Avy-pavy
Avi-poo
Avasaurus Rex
Ava Flava
Avacado
Ava-bug
Ava-lou

Style of the name Ava:

Classic

Gender of the name Ava:

Ava is a girl's name.

Pronunciation of the name Ava:

AY-vah

Number of syllables in the name Ava:

Two

Emotion evoked from the name Ava:

The name Ava evokes feelings of simplicity and refinement.

Alternative spellings for Ava:

Avah
Áva

Popularity of the name Ava:

According to the Social Security Administration index, Ava was the third most popular baby name for girls from 2016-2020. Since the beginning of the 21st century, Ava has been a top-10 baby name for girls born in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Eva, Ivah, Aviana, Avila, Avelina, Aisha, Avery, Ada, Aria