Ava

AY-va
Hebrew, Latin or Germanic
"life; bird; water, island"

Ava Origin and Meaning

The name Ava is a girl's name of Latin origin meaning "life; bird; water, island".

Ava is one of the prime examples of a modern classic name, rising thought the course of a generation into the Top 10, where it has lingered for nearly 20 years.

In medieval times, Ava was a diminutive of Germanic names beginning in Av-, in particular Aveline, from which the name Evelyn would eventually arise. It may derive from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "island" or "water". However, the medieval name eventually fell out of use entirely, only to resurface in contemporary times.

This suggests that today’s Ava may be a modern variation of Eva. Alternatively, Ava could also derive from the Latin avis, meaning "bird." Ava has separate Persian roots as a name meaning "voice" or "sound."

Ava was given a huge popularity boost—Ava's currently among the top girl names and the top girls' name starting with A—when dozens of high-profile stars such as Reese Witherspoon and Hugh Jackman chose Ava for their daughters. Another reason for its appeal: It's one of the elite group of girl names that mean life. This Glamour Girl name via Hollywood beauty Ava Gardner is attractive but epidemically popular!

Some parents who love Ava's simplicity and style have looked on to other choices that might take her place: Eva, Avery, Ada, Aveline and so on. The result, as with other popular names such as Hailey and Aiden that have spawned a raft of imitators, is that Ava is beginning to feel even more ubiquitous than it might otherwise based on its Top 5 standing.

Ava seemed to be headed towards Number 1—it's no accident we titled one of our books on baby name style Beyond Ava & Aiden—but, though it seems to have been somewhat side-swiped by the Olivia-Isabella-Sophia group, it will still certainly stay in the Top 10 for years to come. It's a lovely name on many levels, but if you want something that will stand out, keep looking.

One of the most fascinating things about Ava is that it's a much more ancient name than its modern-feeling sleekness would suggest. St. Ava was the daughter of King Pepin and was cured of blindness and became a nun.

While Ava Gardner represents the Golden Age of Hollywood image of the name, director Ava DuVernay updates it to new Hollywood, together showcasing the name's attractive mix of glamor and strength.

# 8 in the US

Ava Rank in US Top 1000

# 21 on Nameberry

Ava Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Ava Popularity

Famous People Named Ava

  • Saint Ava
    Princess of Aquitaine; daughter of Pepin II; cured of blindness by Saint Rainfredis, then became a Benedictine nun
  • Ava Marie DuVernay
    American film director
  • Ava Lowle Willing
    American Socialite; first wife of John Jacob Astor IV
  • Ava Alice Muriel Astor
    American Socialite; daughter of John Jacob Astor IV and Ava Lowle Willing
  • Ava Lavinia Gardner
    American Actress and Singer
  • Ava Marlene Barber
    American country music singer
  • Ava Leigh (born Hayley Carline)
    British reggae singer
  • Ava
    11th century poet; first woman writer in German
  • Ava Astaire McKenzie
    daughter of actor and dancer Fred Astaire
  • Ava Elizabeth Sambora
    daughter of Richie Sambora and Heather Locklear (b. 1997)
  • Ava Elizabeth Phillippe
    daughter of Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon (b. 1999)
  • Ava Archer Reeves (b. 1999)
    stillborn daughter of actor Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Syme
  • Ava Elizabeth DeLonge (b. 2002)
    daughter of musician Tom DeLonge and Jennifer Jenkins
  • Ava Rose Kathleen McBride (b. 2005)
    daughter of singer Martina McBride
  • Ava Eliot Jackman (b. 2005)
    daughter of actors Hugh Jackman and Deborra Lee Furness
  • Ava Mazurkiewicz (b. 2006)
    daughter of drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz of Cannibal Corpse
  • Ava Carpinello (b. 2006)
    daughter of actors Amy Acker and James Carpinello
  • Ava Lorenn Gosselaar (b. 2006)
    daughter of actors Mark,Paul Gosselaar and Lisa Ann Russell
  • Ava Dillon (b. 2006)
    daughter of actors Kevin Dillon and Jane Stuart
  • Ava Veronica Priestley (b. 2007)
    daughter of actor and director Jason Priestley
  • Ava Lila Rae Niccol (b. 2008)
    daughter of model Rachel Roberts and director Andrew Niccol
  • Ava Rhea Economopoulos (b. 2008)
    daughter of comedians Caroline Rhea and Costaki Economopoulos
  • Ava Jean Blanchard (b. 2008)
    daughter of actress Tammy Blanchard
  • Ava LaRynn Davis (b. 2009)
    daughter of singer LaKisha Jones and Larry Davis
  • Ava Madelyn McGee (b. 2009)
    daughter of golfer Annika Sorenstam and Mike McGee
  • Ava Salazar (b. 2009)
    daughter of actress Paz Vega and Orson Salazar
  • Ava Katherine Otto (b. 2010)
    daughter of country music singer James Otto
  • Ava Reese Biermann (b. 2010)
    daughter of actress Andrea Roth and Todd Biermann
  • Ava Grace Strickland (b. 2011)
    daughter of reality TV's Melissa Rycroft and Tye Strickland
  • Ava Frances Manning (b. 2011)
    daughter of football player Eli Manning and Abby McGrew
  • Ava Jaymes McLean (b. 2012)
    daughter of singer A.J. McLean and Rochelle Karidis
  • Ava Berlin Renner (b. 2013)
    daughter of actor Jeremy Renner and Sonni Pacheco
  • Ava Grace Pobre (b. 2014)
    daughter of actress Stacy Keibler and Jared Pobre
  • Ava Marie Jean Wayans (b. 2014)
    daughter of Vanessa Simmons and Michael Wayans
  • Ava Obi (b. 2015)
    daughter of footballer Mikel Obi
  • Ava Marie Grace Faustino (b. 2015)
    daughter of actor David Faustino and Lindsay Bronson
  • Ava Lane Busby (b. 2015)
    one of the Busby Quints on "Outdaughtered"
  • Ava Kemp (b.2017)
    daughter of actor Ross Kemp
  • Ava Laverne West (b. 2018)
    daughter of American actress Amber Stevens West & American actor Andrew J. West
  • Ava Max (b. 1994
    Amanda Ava Koci), American singer/songwriter, singer of breakthrough song "Sweet But Psycho"

Ava in Pop Culture

  • Ava London
    character in "Beneath the Glitter" by Elle and Blair Fowler
  • Ava Jerome
    character on American soap "General Hospital"
  • Ava Benton
    character on American soap "All My Children"
  • Ava Peralta
    character on American soap "Guiding Light"
  • Ava Moore
    transgender character on TV's "Nip/Tuck"
  • Ava Lord
    character in in the "Sin City" series
  • Ava Gregory
    main character on TV's "Summerland"
  • Ava Marchetta
    main character in movie "Material Girls"
  • Ava Barlow
    character in Kristen Ahsley's "Rock Chick" series
  • Ava Ire
    main character in webcomic "Ava's Demon"
  • Ava Hartman
    character on British soap "EastEnders"
  • Ava Walker
    character in 1999 film "Tumbleweeds"
  • Ava Garden Wilder
    character in Nina LaCour's "Everything Leads to You"
  • Ava Wilhelmina Lavender
    main character in Leslye Walton's "The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender"
  • Ava Ayala aka White Tiger
    character in Marvel comics
  • Ava
    humanoid robot in the film "Ex Machina"
  • Ava Inferi
    Portuguese musical group
  • Ava
    Persian name meaning "voice"
  • Ava Adore
    song by Smashing Pumpkins
  • Ava Morgenstern
    character on "Girl Meets World"
  • Ava Wilson
    character in "Supernatural" season 2
  • Ava Jeffords
    son of Terrence "Terry" Jeffords in Brooklyn Nine Nine