Mavis
2025 SSA
Below 5 births
About Mavis
Mavis, another word for the song thrush, is also a relative of the Welsh word for strawberries, mefus. Mavis has something of a British World War II feel, a friend of Beryl and Doris, but it was quite popular in the U.S. a couple of decades earlier, peaking in the Roaring Twenties.
With the renewed interest in names ending in 's' — and in bird names and vintage names — Mavis could make a return, especially with the new interest in Maeve. In fact, the cosy Mavis re-entered the US Top 1000 after a 50-year absence in 2016 and has since risen to the Top 600.
Some noted bearers of the name are R&B singer Mavis Staples, a member of the Staple Singers, Canadian writer Mavis Gallant and the feminist activist Mavis Leno. Mavis Gary was the name of the Charlize Theron character in the film Young Adult. And — trivia tidbit — in her short-running eponymous sitcom, Whoopi Goldberg's character was named Mavis.
A younger generation may well associate it with animated character Mavis Dracula from Hotel Transylvania.
Mavis is also given to boys.
Pronounced MAY-vis.
As of October 2026, Mavis ranked #561 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #270 in 1927, Nameberry popularity #309.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · girls | Births · girls | US rank · boys | Births · boys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #1,103 | 232 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #1,006 | 267 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #790 | 361 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #800 | 342 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #890 | 304 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #842 | 321 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #844 | 324 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #759 | 377 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | #681 | 429 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | #595 | 502 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #566 | 532 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #561 | 537 | — | 0 |
World rankings
Mavis for girls
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Mavis.
Mavis on lists
Famous Maviss
- Mavis StaplesGirl
American singer and civil rights activist
- Mavis Leslie de Trafford GallantGirl
Canadian fiction writer
- Mavis FanGirl
Taiwanese pop singer
- Mavis Hee (born Xu Meifeng)Girl
Singaporean pop singer
- Mavis Clare VilliersGirl
Australian,British actress
- Mavis CheekGirl
English novelist
- Mavis Anne FreemanGirl
American Olympic swimmer
- Mavis Elizabeth Nicholson LenoGirl
American philanthropist; wife of comedian Jay Leno
- Mavis Gladys Fox PughGirl
English actress
- Mavis Constance Tate (born Maybird Hogg)Girl
English politician
- Mavis JukesGirl
American children's author
- Mavis WilsonGirl
Canadian politician
- Mavis NicholsonGirl
English television presenter
Mavis in pop culture
- Mavis DraculaGirl
a character in the movie "Hotel Transylvania"
- "Mavis Beacon Teaches TypingGirl
" series of computer programs
- Mavis ClareGirl
character in "The Sorrows of Satan" by Marie Corelli, bestselling book that first popularized the name
- Mavis VermillionGirl
character in the anime "Fairy Tail"
- Mavis GaryGirl
main character in movie "Young Adult "
- Mrs. Mavis PikeGirl
character in British TV's "Dad's Army"
- Mavis WiltonGirl
character in British soap "Coronation Street"
- Mavis BennettGirl
character in New Zealand soap "Shortland Street"
- MavisGirl
sea turtle from the 2014 film "Dolphin Tale 2"
- Mavis 'Mave' CarterGirl
character on TV's "Call the Midwife," twin sister Meg Carter
- Dark MavisGirl
recurring character in English rock band Mansun's album "Attack of the Grey Lantern"
- Mavis TrentGirl
character in Hawkman comics
- MavisGirl
character on British TV series "Open All Hours"
- MavisGirl
character in the Thomas & Friends series
- Mavis AndersonGirl
character on TV's "Dallas"
- "The Mavis Bramston ShowGirl
" Australian TV series
- Mavis BuckeyGirl
character in the Funny Farm webcomic
- Mavis CruetGirl
fairy character in British series "Willo the Wisp"
- "Bring Me the Head of Mavis DavisGirl
" 1997 film
- Mavis "Bubbles" DeVereGirl
character on British comedy "Little Britain"
- Mavis FreestoneGirl
character in the " ...in Death" series by J.D. Robb
- Mavis MadlingGirl
character on TV's "Designing Women"
- "The Transformation of Miss Mavis MingGirl
" novel by Michael Moorcock
- Mavis MunroGirl
character in comics series "Supernatural Law"
- Mavis NeffGirl
character on TV's "The Andy Griffith Show"
- Mavis NewkirkGirl
character on TV's "Hogan's Heroes"
- Mavis RaeGirl
main character on TV's "Whoopi"
- Mavis WartellaGirl
Depew, character in video game "Rockett's New School"