Ava
Ava is a girls' name of Latin origin meaning “life, bird, guarantee.” It ranked #11 in the United States in 2025. Possibly a medieval Latin short form of names beginning with 'av-,' or related to the Germanic 'aval' meaning guarantee.
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how do you pronounce Ava?
AY-vah
where does the name Ava come from?
Ava has more than one plausible source and no settled answer. It may descend from the Latin avis, meaning bird, or from a Germanic root of uncertain sense, or it may be a softened form of Eve, from the Hebrew Chava meaning life. Modern parents generally reach for the life reading.
It may also be related to the Hebrew Chava (Eve). The name was notably revived by actress Ava Gardner and has dominated baby name charts in the 21st century.
how popular is this name?
Ava has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 136 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 10. It peaked at #3 in 2016, and ranked #11 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #11 |
| 2024 | #9 |
| 2023 | #8 |
| 2022 | #7 |
| 2021 | #5 |
| 2020 | #3 |
| 2019 | #3 |
| 2018 | #3 |
| 2017 | #3 |
| 2016 | #3 |
| 2010 | #5 |
| 2000 | #180 |
| 1990 | #950 |
| 1970 | #789 |
| 1960 | #532 |
| 1950 | #469 |
| 1940 | #802 |
| 1930 | #571 |
| 1920 | #515 |
| 1910 | #449 |
| 1900 | #417 |
| 1890 | #361 |
| 1880 | #466 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Ava fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Ava
A ninth-century Frankish nun called Ava is among the earliest recorded bearers, and the name stayed rare for centuries afterwards. Its modern career owes a good deal to the actress Ava Gardner, and it rose steeply from the late 1990s to reach the American top five by 2005, where it has largely remained.
who are famous people named Ava?
- Ava Gardner (actress)
- Ava DuVernay (filmmaker)
- Ava Max (singer)
what are the nicknames and variants of Ava?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Ava?
what names go well with Ava?
Sibling names that share Ava's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Ava
What does the name Ava mean?
Ava means “life, bird, guarantee”.
What is the origin of the name Ava?
Ava comes from the Latin naming tradition. Related forms include Eva, Avah and Aveline.
How popular is the name Ava?
Ava ranked #11 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2016, at #3, and it has spent 136 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Ava a boy or girl name?
Ava is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Ava?
Ava is pronounced AY-vah, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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