Ava Name Meaning
Ava is often used as a girl's name. Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Ava.
Fact checked by Elizabeth Brownfield
Since its origins are unclear, the name Ava has several possible meanings. Its roots could be from the Germanic word aval, meaning "guarantee." In Latin, avis means "bird, birdlike."
The name Ava might also be another version of Eve or Eva, which comes from the Hebrew name Havva (from the word hayya), meaning "life, lively."
Yet another possible meaning is "voice, sound," which comes from the Persian language.
Read on to learn about Ava's name's meaning, popularity, and variations.
Origin: Ava has unclear origins, but several possibilities include German, Latin, Persian, and Hebrew. The name is known to mean "birdlike, lively."
Gender: Ava is most frequently used as a girl name.
Pronunciation: eh-VAH
Editor's Note
Although many baby names are separated by gender, Parents believes gender does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.
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Related: How To Create a Unique Baby Name
How Popular Is the Name Ava?
The name Ava was not particularly popular during the last century until the 2000s. According to the Social Security Administration data, it has consistently placed in the top 1,000 girl names since 1940 but barely hung on to the list during certain years.
Ava enjoyed a small bump in popularity in the early 1950s, likely due to the movie star Ava Gardner, who was a leading actress at the time. After that, it steadily decreased in popularity until its lowest recorded ranking of 997 in 1984.
Subsequently, it started gaining popularity again, jumping over 250 spots between 1997 and 1998. This is likely attributed to two well-known celebrities, Heather Locklear and Reese Witherspoon, naming their daughters Ava in 1997 and 1999, respectively.
From there, it experienced a meteoric rise in popularity, leapfrogging to its best ranking as the third most popular name in 2016 for baby girls born in the United States. It maintained the number three spot until 2021, and has remained in the top 10 ever since.
Name Variations
Some name variations for Ava include a spelling variation and the related name origins:
Avah
Eve
Eva
Avis
Similar Names
Other names that also begin with the letter "A" and end in a vowel include:
Avery
Ada
Anna
Arabella
Aurora
Aria
Amelia
Suggested Sibling Names
Names that can pair well with Ava include:
Adam
Aiden
Anthony
Audrey
Oliver
Ella
Jake
Emma
Olivia
Related: How to Choose a First, Middle, and Last Name for Your Baby
Famous People Named Ava
The earliest notable Ava was likely Princess Ava, daughter of Pepin II, King of Aquitaine (a region in France). She was cured of blindness by Saint Rainfredis. After that, she became a Benedictine nun. Saint Ava served in Belgium and died in 845 AD as an abbess, the highest rank a woman could hold within the Catholic religious hierarchy at that time.
Famous people named Ava
Ava Marie DuVernay, American film director
Ava Lowle Willing, American socialite and the first wife of John Jacob Astor IV
Ava Alice Muriel Astor, American socialite and the daughter of John Jacob Astor IV and Ava Lowle Willing
Ava Lavinia Gardner, American actor and singer
Ava Astaire McKenzie, daughter of actor and dancer Fred Astaire
Fictional characters named Ava
Ava Jerome, a character on the American soap opera General Hospital
Ava Benton, a character on American soap opera All My Children
Ava Peralta, a character on the American soap opera Guiding Light
Ava Lord, a character in the Sin City series
Ava Gregory, the main character on the television series Summerland
Ava Hartman, a character on the British soap opera EastEnders
Ava Ayala, aka White Tiger, character in Marvel comics
Ava, a humanoid robot in the film Ex Machina
Ava Morgenstern, a character on the television series Girl Meets World
Ava Wilson, a character in Supernatural Season 2
More Baby Names
Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:
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