Hawa

♀ Girl

Pronounced HAH-wah /ˈhɑ.wɑ/Medium

Meaning: The Arabic and Swahili form of Eve (Hawwa, حواء), the name of the first woman, traditionally interpreted as 'living' or 'breath of life'.Medium

In 30 seconds: Hawa is the Arabic and Swahili form of Eve, the name of the first woman, traditionally read as 'living' or 'breath of life'.

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Origin MediumArabic, Swahili

MeaningThe Arabic and Swahili form of Eve (Hawwa, حواء), the name of the first woman, traditionally interpreted as 'living' or 'breath of life'.

U.S. rank (2025)#1813 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births111 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,372

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Hawa renders the name known in scripture as Hawwa (حواء), the first woman, and is widely used in both Arabic and Swahili-speaking communities. The traditional sense behind it is 'living' or 'breath of life', the same idea carried by the English Eve. It is a name with deep roots in religious tradition rather than a modern coinage.

Across languages the same name takes many shapes, from Eva and Eve to Yeva, Eua, and Həvva, so Hawa sits within a very large family. In East Africa especially it is a familiar, everyday choice.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Hawa is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name - Hawa — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

EvaYevaHəvvaEveEua

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Hawa Abdi (1947-2020)
Somali doctor and human rights activist nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize

If you like Hawa…

Eve— The English form of the same first-woman name that Hawa represents

Eva— A widely used variation of the same name as Hawa

Marwa— shares the -wa ending

Arwa— a similarly popular pick

Hafsa— a similarly popular pick

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Hawa mean?

Hawa is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with Arabic tradition.

How do you pronounce Hawa?

It's commonly said HAH-wah /ˈhɑ.wɑ/.

Is Hawa a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Hawa is used as a girl name.

How popular is Hawa?

In 2024, Hawa ranked #1651 in the U.S. for girls, with 124 births recorded.