Girl · Modern · International
Ava
AvaSay it AY-vuh
- Meaning today
- Life, bird
- Original meaning
- "of uncertain origin; often taken as a form of Eve, 'life-giver'" Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, H2332
- Say it
- AY-vuh
- Other spellings
- Avah
Ava
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Ava meaning
Ava is an international girl's name.
Meaning today
Life, bird
Original uncertain (Germanic; often linked to Hebrew Eve) meaning
"of uncertain origin; often taken as a form of Eve, 'life-giver'"
Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary, H2332 · entry Chavvah (חַוָּה) · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
Ava is an old name with an unclear history. It appears in the early Middle Ages as a short form of Germanic names that began with Aw- or Av-, an element whose meaning is not known. It is also treated as a form of Eve or Eva, the Hebrew Chavvah, which Strong's concordance glosses as "life-giver", and that is where the popular meaning "life" comes from. The meaning "bird", from Latin avis, has no real support. A famous bearer is the actress Ava Gardner, a Hollywood star of the 1940s and 1950s.
References: Strong's H2332, Chavvah (biblehub.com) · Wikipedia, Ava (given name) · Wikipedia, Ava Gardner
Famous namesakes
- Ava Gardner, American actress
Popularity abroad
- #11 United States, girls 2025 (down 2 from 9 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration - #11 England and Wales, girls 2025
Office for National Statistics
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Ava · Avah