Ava

AY-va

Hebrew, Latin or Germanic

"life; bird; water, island"

Updated Fri Sep 27 2024

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

8US2023
21Nameberry2024
11Canada2023
9Future2028
4England2022
10Scotland2023
15Ireland2023
6Australia2023
8New Zealand2023
39France2023
153Germany2016
190Netherlands2015
55Switzerland2023
48Slovenia2023
77Dogs2022
92Cats2021

20 Names Similar to Ava

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Ava.

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

Ava