Mavis

♀ Girl

Pronounced MAY-vis /ˈmeɪ.vɪs/High

Meaning: From an Old French word mauviz meaning 'song thrush,' a small melodious bird; the name was used in English literature from the 14th century onward as a poetic word for the thrush, and entered given-name use in the 19th centuryHigh

In 30 seconds: Mavis is a lyrical English bird-name meaning 'song thrush,' rare as a freestanding given name before the 19th century. Charming and quirky, it is one of the most delightful names in the vintage-revival wave.

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Origin HighEnglish, Old French

MeaningFrom an Old French word mauviz meaning 'song thrush,' a small melodious bird; the name was used in English literature from the 14th century onward as a poetic word for the thrush, and entered given-name use in the 19th century

U.S. rank (2025)#561 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births537 girls (0.03% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1927

Total births (all-time)≈ 23,010

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Mavis comes from Old French mauviz (song thrush), a word used in English poetry since the 14th century to describe the thrush's song. Marie Corelli's 1895 novel The Sorrows of Satan featured a character named Mavis Clare, widely credited with launching Mavis as a given name in the English-speaking world. Before that, it had been purely a literary and poetic term.

Mavis was popular in Britain in the early 20th century, peaking in the 1930s and 1940s, and has been in gentle decline since. In the United States it never reached the same heights but has been experiencing renewed interest in the 21st century as parents seek unusual vintage names. It sits in the lower U.S. top 500 and is particularly favored by parents drawn to nature names and literary rarities.

Did you know? The song thrush (mavis) is one of the most celebrated birds in English poetry — its clear, repetitive song made it a symbol of joy and persistence, and was immortalized in lines by Shakespeare, Keats, and Browning, giving Mavis a surprisingly rich literary heritage.

Overall data confidence 91%

Behind the Name — Mavis — etymology and literary historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

MavieMavys

Nicknames

MavMavie

Famous Bearers

★Mavis Staples (1939–present)
American gospel and soul singer and civil rights activist, lead vocalist of the Staple Singers.

If you like Mavis…

Wren— shares the bird-name heritage and the same one-or-two-syllable vintage nature quality

Robin— two-syllable English bird-name used as a given name with the same charming, old-fashioned feel

Lark— another English bird-name in the same nature-inspired rare girls' name register

Piper— musical bird-adjacent name with the same vintage personality and plucky energy

Frequently Asked

What does the name Mavis mean?

Mavis comes from Old French mauviz meaning 'song thrush,' a small melodious songbird. It was a poetic English word before becoming a given name in the 19th century.

How do you pronounce Mavis?

It is said MAY-vis — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Mavis a boy or girl name?

Mavis is used almost exclusively as a girls' name.

How popular is Mavis?

Mavis is an uncommon but rising name in the U.S., appearing in the lower top 500 as part of the vintage bird-name revival.