How to say it
AY · vuh
ˈeɪ.və
Feminine
Ava
Bird, life
What it means
Two old roots converge here. The Germanic ava (bird) and the Latin avis (bird), with a thread of Hebrew Chavah (life, the source of Eve) sometimes woven in. A short name with several long histories behind it.
Ava has an unusually plural etymology. Medieval saints carried a Germanic form. Latin avis lent a flight-bound resonance. Many modern parents read it as an English softening of Eve. Hollywood gave the name its 20th-century glamour through Ava Gardner, but the current wave is more recent. From 1998 onward Ava climbed almost unbroken into the US top five, where it has stayed. It pairs well with longer feminine names like Olivia, Amelia, and Isabella, and gives sibling sets a clean two-letter anchor.
How to spell Ava
The standard spelling is Ava. Common variants include Avah, Eva, Ada, but Ava is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #3 in 2016, currently #11 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Rarely shortens. Sometimes used as a short form for Ava-prefixed names (Avalon, Avianna) but most often stands alone.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Ava Gardner Hollywood golden-age actress, The Killers and The Barefoot Contessa
- Ava DuVernay Filmmaker, Selma and 13th
Spelling variants
- Avah
- Eva
- Ada
Names with the same feeling
See Ava from another angle
By meaning
Common questions
- What does the name Ava mean?
- Two old roots converge here. The Germanic ava (bird) and the Latin avis (bird), with a thread of Hebrew Chavah (life, the source of Eve) sometimes woven in. A short name with several long histories behind it.
- What does Ava mean in Germanic?
- In Germanic, Ava means "Bird, life." Ava has an unusually plural etymology. Medieval saints carried a Germanic form. Latin avis lent a flight-bound resonance. Many modern parents read it as an English softening of Eve. Hollywood gave the name its 20th-century glamour through Ava Gardner, but the current wave is more recent. From 1998 onward Ava climbed almost unbroken into the US top five, where it has stayed. It pairs well with longer feminine names like Olivia, Amelia, and Isabella, and gives sibling sets a clean two-letter anchor.
- How do you pronounce Ava?
- Ava is pronounced ˈeɪ.və. Say it as AY-vuh, with the stress on the "ay" syllable.
- How do you spell Ava?
- The standard spelling is Ava. Common spelling variants include Avah, Eva, Ada.
- Is Ava a boy or girl name?
- Ava is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Ava?
- Ava ranked #11 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.