Hebrew Girl Names That Mean Life
Hebrew girl names that mean life all trace to one root word, chai, and this list shows how far that root has traveled.
Names67
OriginHebrew
MeaningLife
GenderGirl
At the center of this list is a single Hebrew root, chai, meaning 'living.' Chava is that root worn plainly — it's the actual Hebrew word for Eve as it appears in scripture. Chaya carries the same root into the toast l'chaim, 'to life,' making it a name with a built-in blessing.
When that same Hebrew idea crossed into Latin and English, it became Eva and then Eve, Evie, and Evelina — softer, more familiar forms that still translate straight back to 'life.' Then there's a second family, Ava and Avah, that sounds Hebrew but whose own origin is genuinely debated.
Hebrew Girl Names That Mean Life, From Root to Nickname
Some of these names carry the meaning at full length, and some carry it in miniature. Eve is the meaning in one syllable. Evie and Evee are the same word shrunk into a pet name, sweet enough to stand alone. Evelynn folds it into something longer, pairing Eve's life-meaning with the Edwardian polish of Evelyn.
Beyond Hebrew: Other Names on This List
Amarah reaches the same idea from Arabic rather than Hebrew, meaning 'eternal' or 'long life' — a reminder that Hebrew and Arabic are close linguistic cousins, both Semitic languages that often echo each other's themes. Avalee takes a different path, blending Ava's meaning of life or bird with the softer, nature-toned suffix -lee for something breezier.
Names List
Evelyn#8 in the U.S.Wished-for child; hazelnut; from the Germanic name AvelinePronounced EV-uh-lin▶Ava#11 in the U.S.Life; living one; possibly from Latin avis (bird)Pronounced A-Va▶Eva#134 in the U.S.Life; living — Latin and Greek form of the Hebrew Chava (Eve), from chaya (to live)Pronounced EE-vuh▶Evie#270 in the U.S.Life; living; breath of lifePronounced EE-vee▶Evelynn#301 in the U.S.Wished-for child; life — as a variant of Evelyn blending Eve (life) and Old English elementsPronounced EV-uh-lin▶Eve#519 in the U.S.From Hebrew Chavah (Havva), derived from the root chava meaning 'to breathe' or 'to live'; the Bible itsePronounced EEV▶Chaya#588 in the U.S.Hebrew feminine name from chayah meaning 'life' or 'to live,' the feminine form of Chai; directly relatedPronounced KHAH-yah▶Evelina#778 in the U.S.Life or wished-for child; a Latinate elaboration of Eveline, blending Eva (from Hebrew Chavah meaning lifPronounced ev-eh-LEE-nah▶Avah#1191 in the U.S.Life; a spelling variant of Ava, from Germanic ava (life, living) or Hebrew Chava (life)Pronounced AY-vuh▶Amarah#1343 in the U.S.Eternal, long life, immortalPronounced ah-MAR-ah▶Chava#1415 in the U.S.Life, living onePronounced KHA-vah▶Avalee#3015 in the U.S.Modern blend of Ava (from Hebrew Chava: life, or Latin avis: bird) and Lee (Old English: woodland clearinPronounced AV-uh-lee▶Evee#3287 in the U.S.Life, living one; a spelling of Evie, the pet form of Eve (Hebrew Chawwah) and EvelynPronounced EE-vee▶Evy#3520 in the U.S.Short form of Eva/Eve and Evelyn — Eve from Hebrew Chawwah, 'life, living one'Pronounced EV-ee▶Tziporah#3558 in the U.S.Bird; from Hebrew tzippor — the Midianite wife of Moses who saved his lifePronounced tsi-POR-ah▶Michal#3612 in the U.S.Who is like God?; the daughter of King Saul and first wife of David, who saved his lifePronounced mee-KHAL▶Evany#3835 in the U.S.Modern styling joining Eva ('life') or Evan ('God is gracious') to a -ny ending; not firmly fixedPronounced EH-vah-nee▶Chavy#3969 in the U.S.Yiddish pet form of Chava — Hebrew Chavah, 'life', the first woman (Eve)Pronounced KHAH-vee▶Evanora#4579 in the U.S.Modern coinage joining Eva ('life') to Nora/Eleanor ('light/honor'); also a film witch's name; routes layPronounced ev-ə-NOR-ah▶Avamarie#4769 in the U.S.Compound of Ava ('life' or 'bird') and Marie ('beloved'); echoes the Latin 'Ave Maria'; given as one namePronounced AH-və-mə-ree▶Evelia#4916 in the U.S.Spanish elaboration of Eva/Evelina — from Hebrew Chava, 'life, living' (Eve)Pronounced eh-VEH-lee-ah▶Yeva#5273 in the U.S.Armenian/Russian form of Eve — from Hebrew Chava, 'life; living, breathing'Pronounced YEH-vah▶Evara#5330 in the U.S.Modern coinage joining Eva ('life', Hebrew) to a soft -ra/-vara ending (echoing Evara/Avara); no single fPronounced eh-VAH-rah▶Avanna#5443 in the U.S.Modern blend of Ava ('life; bird') with -anna ('grace', Hebrew); also echoes Avani ('the earth', SanskritPronounced ə-VAN-ah▶Avaylah#5800 in the U.S.A modern name joining Ava ('life; a bird', or a Latin form) with the -ylah ending (echoing Ayla, 'halo ofPronounced ə-VAY-lah▶Eevie#5829 in the U.S.-ee- spelling of Evie — a pet form of Eve/Evelyn, from Hebrew Chavah, 'life; living'Pronounced EE-vee▶Evalie#5835 in the U.S.A modern name joining Eva ('life', Hebrew) with a -lie ending ('a meadow'); also echoes Evalyn; no singlePronounced EV-ə-lee▶Evi#5837 in the U.S.A European pet form of Eva/Eve — from Hebrew Chavah, 'life; living'Pronounced EH-vee▶Avy#5958 in the U.S.A pet form of Ava ('life; a bird') or Avery ('ruler of the elves'); routes layeredPronounced AY-vee▶Evalee#5996 in the U.S.A modern name joining Eva ('life', Hebrew) with the -lee ending ('a meadow', English); routes layeredPronounced EV-ə-lee▶Laysha#6044 in the U.S.A modern spelling echoing Laisha/Aisha — from Arabic, 'living, alive; prosperous' (also a Hebrew 'woman' Pronounced LAY-shah▶Avagrace#6645 in the U.S.A compound of Ava (variously 'life; a bird; like a bird') and Grace ('grace; God's favor', from Latin graPronounced AY-vah-grayss▶Evyn#6704 in the U.S.A spelling variously of Evan (Welsh form of John, 'God is gracious') and a short form of Evelyn ('a littlPronounced EV-in▶Amri#6933 in the U.S.Variously the Hebrew Omri ('my life; my sheaf'), an Arabic 'my life; my command', and a modern -ri coinagPronounced AHM-ree▶Evalena#7006 in the U.S.A blend of Eva ('life; living') and Lena ('a light; the bright one'); routes layeredPronounced ev-uh-LEE-nah▶Evey#7333 in the U.S.A pet form of Eve/Evelyn — from Hebrew Chavah, 'life; living; the mother of all living'Pronounced EE-vee▶Evvy#7334 in the U.S.A pet form of Evelyn/Eve — from Hebrew Chavah, 'life; living'Pronounced EH-vee▶Evah#7688 in the U.S.A spelling of Eva/Eve — from Hebrew Chavah, 'life; living; breathing'Pronounced EE-vah▶Avital#7996 in the U.S.From the Hebrew Avital, 'my father is dew; father of dew' (avi, 'my father', + tal, 'dew') — an image of Pronounced ah-vee-TAHL▶Evia#8585 in the U.S.A form/spelling linked to Eve/Evia — from the Hebrew Chava, 'life; living; breath of life'; also a Greek Pronounced EE-vee-ah▶Eabha#9060 in the U.S.The Irish form of Eve (Eabha) — from the Hebrew Chava, 'life; living; the mother of all'Pronounced AY-vah▶Evvie#9095 in the U.S.A short form of Eve ('life; living', Hebrew) and Evelyn ('a wished-for child'); routes layeredPronounced EV-ee▶Havah#9782 in the U.S.A Hebrew form of Eve — from Chava/Havah, 'life; a living one; mother of all living'; the first woman in GPronounced hah-VAH▶Evea#10192 in the U.S.Evea reads most naturally as an elaborated form of Eva, the Latin and European form of the Hebrew Chavah,Pronounced EE-vee-uh▶Evayah#10501 in the U.S.A modern coinage extending Eva/Ava ('life; living one,' or 'bird') with a soft -ayah ending. Melodic; rouPronounced eh-VAY-ah▶Evita#10503 in the U.S.A Spanish diminutive of Eva ('life; living one'), 'little Eva.' Famously borne by Eva 'Evita' Perón of ArPronounced eh-VEE-tah▶Evelise#10566 in the U.S.A modern blend of Eve, from Hebrew Chavah ('life, living one'), with Elise, the French short form of ElisPronounced ev-uh-LEESE▶Chai#11283 in the U.S.Chai is a word-name from the spiced tea (Hindi chai, ultimately from Chinese), and separately the Hebrew Pronounced CHY▶Chavi#11290 in the U.S.Chavi is a Hebrew pet form of Chava (Eve), from a root meaning 'life' or 'to breathe'. Separately, chavi Pronounced KHAH-vee▶Evarose#11384 in the U.S.A written-together compound of Eva (Hebrew, 'life') and Rose (Latin, the flower and a symbol of love and Pronounced EE-vuh-rohz▶Eviee#11386 in the U.S.An elaborated spelling of Evie, a pet form of Eve ('life') and Evelyn. The doubled -ee ending gives a sofPronounced EE-vee▶Evaleen#11509 in the U.S.Evaleen is a spelling of Evaline or Eveline, ultimately from the Norman Aveline and long linked in the poPronounced EV-uh-leen▶Evamaria#11510 in the U.S.A compound of Eva, the Latin form of Hebrew Chavah ('life, living one'), and Maria, the Latin form of MirPronounced ev-uh-muh-REE-ah▶Eveny#11513 in the U.S.Eveny reads as a modern respelling of Evany (Evony), built on the Eve- element from Eve, the Hebrew ChavaPronounced EV-uh-nee▶Eeva#12597 in the U.S.Eeva is the Finnish and Estonian form of Eve, from Hebrew Chavah, 'life' or 'living one.' The double-e spPronounced EE-vuh▶Hava#12601 in the U.S.The Hebrew form of Eve (Chavah/Hava), from a root tied to 'life; living' — 'the mother of all living.' A Pronounced HAH-vah▶Zoejane#13441 in the U.S.Zoejane joins two established names into one: Zoe, from the Greek zoe, 'life,' and Jane, an English form Pronounced ZOH-jayn▶Chayla#13790 in the U.S.Most often a modern American coinage in the Shayla/Kayla family. It may also be read through Hebrew, wherPronounced CHAY-luh▶Evamae#13970 in the U.S.Evamae joins Eva, from Hebrew Chavah meaning 'life,' with Mae, a pet form of Mary or May and by extensionPronounced EE-vuh-may▶Evva#13971 in the U.S.Evva is a doubled-consonant spelling of Eva, the Latin and continental European form of Eve. The name comPronounced EV-uh▶Hawwa#14047 in the U.S.The Arabic and Islamic name of Eve — Hawwa, wife of Adam and mother of humankind, honored in the Quran anPronounced HAH-wah▶Hayah#14048 in the U.S.From Arabic hayah, 'life', and closely tied to Hebrew chayah, 'life, living'. A second Arabic reading conPronounced HAH-yah▶Heva#14066 in the U.S.Most naturally read as a form of Eve — Hebrew Chavah/Hava, generally understood as 'life, living one'. HePronounced HEH-vah▶Evyana#14124 in the U.S.A modern elaboration built on Eve or Eva, from Hebrew Chavah ('life, living one'), with an -ana ending. IPronounced ev-ee-AH-nah▶Lavie#14385 in the U.S.A short modern name that echoes the Hebrew lavi ('lion') and the French la vie ('life; the life'). As a cPronounced lah-VEE▶Chavah#15610 in the U.S.From the Hebrew Chava (Chavah), 'life' — the Hebrew name of Eve, understood in the Bible as the first womPronounced KHAH-vah▶Evamarie#15988 in the U.S.Evamarie is a compound: Eva, the Latin and continental form of Eve, from Hebrew Chavah, 'life; living onePronounced ev-uh-muh-REE▶
More Hebrew Meaning Guides
Girl Names That Mean LeaderGirl Names That Mean JewelBoy Names That Mean LionGirl Names That Mean AngelGirl Names That Mean PurityBoy Names That Mean PurityGirl Names That Mean WarriorBoy Names That Mean GodGirl Names That Mean GodGirl Names That Mean GraceBoy Names That Mean GiftBoy Names That Mean Grace
Frequently Asked
What is the most common Hebrew girl name that means life?
Eva is the most familiar version, currently ranked #134 in the U.S. It's the Latin form of Eve, carrying the same 'life' meaning through a name that reads as sleek and international rather than overtly biblical.
Is Chava or Eve the 'real' biblical name?
Chava is the original — it's the actual Hebrew word used in scripture. Eve is the English form, passed down through Latin translation. Both mean 'life,' but Chava is the one written in the original text.