Ava

♀ Girl

Pronounced A-Va /ˈæ.veɪ/High

Meaning: Life; living one; possibly from Latin avis (bird)Medium

In 30 seconds: A beautifully simple name whose exact origin is debated — possibly from Latin for 'bird' or a Germanic diminutive. Ava has ranked in the U.S. top five girls' names since the mid-2000s.

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Origin MediumLatin, Germanic, Hebrew

MeaningLife; living one; possibly from Latin avis (bird)

Peak year2007

Total births (all-time)≈ 250,761

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Ava has multiple possible origins. It may derive from the Latin avis (bird), from the Hebrew Chava/Eva (life), or from Old German names. Saint Ava was a 9th-century abbess in France. The name's precise etymology remains debated among name scholars.

Ava Gardner (1922–1990), the Hollywood actress, gave the name glamorous visibility in the mid-20th century. The name then surged dramatically in the early 2000s, reaching the U.S. top five and staying there. It was the #3 U.S. girls' name in 2005 and has rarely left the top five since.

Did you know? The origin of Ava is genuinely uncertain — it may be a short form of Eva (life), a Latin bird name (avis), or an Old Germanic name. Its popularity in the modern era owes much to actress Ava Gardner.

Variations

EvaAvahAve

Nicknames

Ave

Famous Bearers

★Ava Gardner (1922–1990)
American actress and Hollywood icon of the 1940s–50s.
★Ava DuVernay (1972–)
American filmmaker, director of Selma and When They See Us.

If you like Ava…

Emma— shares the short, vowel-bookended classic feel

Mia— equally brief, soft girls' name in the global top ten

Isla— short two-syllable name with the same elegant simplicity

Ella— crisp classic with the same open vowel ending

Luna— shares the soft, airy quality and chart dominance

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ava mean?

Ava's origin is debated — it may come from Latin avis (bird), be a short form of Eva (life), or derive from an Old German name element. No single etymology is fully certain.

How do you pronounce Ava?

Ava is said A-Va /ˈæ.veɪ/ — two syllables, with stress on the first.

Is Ava a boy or girl name?

Ava is used almost exclusively as a girl's name.

How popular is Ava?

Ava entered the U.S. top five girls' names around 2005 and has remained there consistently, making it one of the most popular girls' names of the 21st century.