Eva

Eva is a simple, classic name, but be warned: There are suddenly a lot of little girls named Eva (and Ava and Eve) around, perhaps inspired by Eva Longoria--Eva has been a Top 100 name since 2009. Pronunciation can be ee-va, eh-va, or ay-va.

The 1852 publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin, the bestselling novel of the nineteenth century, whose tragic figure Little Eva (short for Evangeline) made an enormous impression on the Victorian reading public, propelled the name to popularity.

Some well known Evas include actresses Evas Marie Saint, Gabor, Green, Longoria and Mendes, sculptor Eva Hesse, singer Little Eva, and model Eva Herzigova

The diminutive Evita is still strongly associated with Evita Peron, wife of the Argentine President Juan Peron.