Ava
2025 SSA
2025 SSA
About Ava
Ava is one of the prime examples of a modern classic name, ranking in the Top 10 for 20 years, from 2005 through 2024, only falling out in 2025.
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 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.
Ava is also given to boys, where it ranks #9807 in the US.
Pronounced AH-vah.
As of October 2026, Ava ranked #11 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #3 in 2018, Nameberry popularity #36.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · girls | Births · girls | US rank · boys | Births · boys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #5 | 15,725 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #4 | 16,410 | #4,905 | 19 |
| 2016 | #3 | 16,347 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #3 | 16,015 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #3 | 15,028 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #3 | 14,544 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #3 | 13,197 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #5 | 12,867 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | #7 | 11,105 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | #8 | 9,724 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #9 | 8,662 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #11 | 7,732 | — | 0 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Ava.
Ava on lists
Famous Avas
- Saint AvaGirl
Princess of Aquitaine; daughter of Pepin II; cured of blindness by Saint Rainfredis, then became a Benedictine nun
- Ava Marie DuVernayGirl
American film director
- Ava Lowle WillingGirl
American Socialite; first wife of John Jacob Astor IV
- Ava Alice Muriel AstorGirl
American Socialite; daughter of John Jacob Astor IV and Ava Lowle Willing
- Ava Lavinia GardnerGirl
American Actress and Singer
- Ava Marlene BarberGirl
American country music singer
- Ava Leigh (born Hayley Carline)Girl
British reggae singer
- AvaGirl
11th century poet; first woman writer in German
- Ava Astaire McKenzieGirl
daughter of actor and dancer Fred Astaire
- Ava Elizabeth SamboraGirl
daughter of Richie Sambora and Heather Locklear (b. 1997)
- Ava Elizabeth PhillippeGirl
daughter of Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon (b. 1999)
- Ava Archer Reeves (b. 1999)Girl
stillborn daughter of actor Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Syme
- Ava Elizabeth DeLonge (b. 2002)Girl
daughter of musician Tom DeLonge and Jennifer Jenkins
- Ava Rose Kathleen McBride (b. 2005)Girl
daughter of singer Martina McBride
- Ava Eliot Jackman (b. 2005)Girl
daughter of actors Hugh Jackman and Deborra Lee Furness
- Ava Mazurkiewicz (b. 2006)Girl
daughter of drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz of Cannibal Corpse
- Ava Carpinello (b. 2006)Girl
daughter of actors Amy Acker and James Carpinello
- Ava Lorenn Gosselaar (b. 2006)Girl
daughter of actors Mark,Paul Gosselaar and Lisa Ann Russell
- Ava Dillon (b. 2006)Girl
daughter of actors Kevin Dillon and Jane Stuart
- Ava Veronica Priestley (b. 2007)Girl
daughter of actor and director Jason Priestley
- Ava Lila Rae Niccol (b. 2008)Girl
daughter of model Rachel Roberts and director Andrew Niccol
- Ava Rhea Economopoulos (b. 2008)Girl
daughter of comedians Caroline Rhea and Costaki Economopoulos
- Ava Jean Blanchard (b. 2008)Girl
daughter of actress Tammy Blanchard
- Ava LaRynn Davis (b. 2009)Girl
daughter of singer LaKisha Jones and Larry Davis
- Ava Madelyn McGee (b. 2009)Girl
daughter of golfer Annika Sorenstam and Mike McGee
- Ava Salazar (b. 2009)Girl
daughter of actress Paz Vega and Orson Salazar
- Ava Katherine Otto (b. 2010)Girl
daughter of country music singer James Otto
- Ava Reese Biermann (b. 2010)Girl
daughter of actress Andrea Roth and Todd Biermann
- Ava Grace Strickland (b. 2011)Girl
daughter of reality TV's Melissa Rycroft and Tye Strickland
- Ava Frances Manning (b. 2011)Girl
daughter of football player Eli Manning and Abby McGrew
- Ava Jaymes McLean (b. 2012)Girl
daughter of singer A.J. McLean and Rochelle Karidis
- Ava Berlin Renner (b. 2013)Girl
daughter of actor Jeremy Renner and Sonni Pacheco
- Ava Grace Pobre (b. 2014)Girl
daughter of actress Stacy Keibler and Jared Pobre
- Ava Marie Jean Wayans (b. 2014)Girl
daughter of Vanessa Simmons and Michael Wayans
- Ava Obi (b. 2015)Girl
daughter of footballer Mikel Obi
- Ava Marie Grace Faustino (b. 2015)Girl
daughter of actor David Faustino and Lindsay Bronson
- Ava Lane Busby (b. 2015)Girl
one of the Busby Quints on "Outdaughtered"
- Ava Kemp (b.2017)Girl
daughter of actor Ross Kemp
- Ava Laverne West (b. 2018)Girl
daughter of American actress Amber Stevens West & American actor Andrew J. West
- Ava Max (b. 1994Girl
Amanda Ava Koci), American singer/songwriter, singer of breakthrough song "Sweet But Psycho"
Ava in pop culture
- Ava LondonGirl
character in "Beneath the Glitter" by Elle and Blair Fowler
- Ava JeromeGirl
character on American soap "General Hospital"
- Ava BentonGirl
character on American soap "All My Children"
- Ava PeraltaGirl
character on American soap "Guiding Light"
- Ava MooreGirl
transgender character on TV's "Nip/Tuck"
- Ava LordGirl
character in in the "Sin City" series
- Ava GregoryGirl
main character on TV's "Summerland"
- Ava MarchettaGirl
main character in movie "Material Girls"
- Ava BarlowGirl
character in Kristen Ahsley's "Rock Chick" series
- Ava IreGirl
main character in webcomic "Ava's Demon"
- Ava HartmanGirl
character on British soap "EastEnders"
- Ava WalkerGirl
character in 1999 film "Tumbleweeds"
- Ava Garden WilderGirl
character in Nina LaCour's "Everything Leads to You"
- Ava Wilhelmina LavenderGirl
main character in Leslye Walton's "The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender"
- Ava Ayala aka White TigerGirl
character in Marvel comics
- AvaGirl
humanoid robot in the film "Ex Machina"
- Ava InferiGirl
Portuguese musical group
- AvaGirl
Persian name meaning "voice"
- Ava AdoreGirl
song by Smashing Pumpkins
- Ava MorgensternGirl
character on "Girl Meets World"
- Ava WilsonGirl
character in "Supernatural" season 2
- Ava JeffordsGirl
son of Terrence "Terry" Jeffords in Brooklyn Nine Nine