Up to 30% off · Complimentary gift wrapping

Name Meaning

Ava

“life; bird (proposed)”

Uncertain (Germanic/Latin) origin· Girl name ·AY-vuh

Ava is a short, elegant name with an old European history and a glamorous modern image. Simple yet striking, it has soared in popularity in recent decades.

Shop your Ava necklace

What Does the Name Ava Mean?

The precise meaning of Ava is uncertain. It may derive from a Germanic root, possibly related to a word for bird, or it may be linked to the Latin avis (bird) or connected to Eva/Eve, meaning life. Rather than fabricate a single meaning, it is honest to say the etymology is debated.

Personality & Traits

Ava feels sleek, confident, and effortlessly stylish. Its short, palindromic form gives it a clean, memorable quality. The name carries a hint of vintage-Hollywood elegance.

Nicknames & Variations

Ava is already short, but affectionate forms include Avie and Aves. Related names and spellings include Eva, Ada, and Avah.

Is Ava a Good Name in 2026?

Ava is a chic, minimalist choice that remains highly popular yet timeless. Its brevity and symmetry make it look elegant on jewelry and easy to pair with longer middle names. It suits parents who love a name that is simple, glamorous, and internationally friendly.

Ava has ranked among the top five US girls' names for much of the 2000s and 2010s.

Variations & nicknames

EvaAvahAva-RoseAda

Famous Avas

—Ava Gardner (actress)
—Ava DuVernay (filmmaker)
—Frau Ava (medieval German poet)

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Ava mean?

Ava's meaning is uncertain; it may relate to a word for bird or be linked to Eva, meaning life.

Is Ava a boy or girl name?

Ava is a girls' name.

Where does the name Ava come from?

It has old European roots, appearing in medieval Germany, and was revived in the 20th century.

Is Ava short for Eva or Ava a full name?

Ava is a complete name in its own right, though it is sometimes linked to or confused with Eva.

Is the name Ava rising or falling in popularity?

According to U.S. Social Security Administration birth data (rank among all American baby names, boys and girls combined), Ava is down from #5 in 2019 to #22 in 2024 — and its best year on record is 2019, at #5.

The origin & history of Ava

Ava originates in the 8th and 9th centuries as an abbreviation of Germanic names containing the element "aw-", which is of uncertain meaning. The name's 20th-century rise is credited to Hollywood actress Ava Gardner.

Source: Wikipedia: Ava name origin

Notable people named Ava

Ava Gardner — American actress of the Golden Age of Hollywood (1922-1990) who drew critics' attention in 1946 for her performance in Robert Siodmak's film noir The Killers.

Source: Wikipedia: Ava Gardner
Ava DuVernay — American filmmaker (born 1972) who became the first Black woman to win the directing award in the U.S. dramatic competition at the Sundance Film Festival (2012, for Middle of Nowhere) and, for Selma (2014), the first African-American woman nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Director.

Source: Wikipedia: Ava DuVernay

Related Names

Variants & nicknames

Related forms

Avantika

Continue reading

Name Necklace Meaning: The Namesake Tradition Behind Wearing Someone's Name

Popularity of the name Ava in the US

2007 · 18,065 babies · rank #15 (18,053 girls, 12 boys)

Best rank: 2019 (#5) · Latest: #22 · Source: US Social Security Administration, national baby-name data

Make it yours

Wear the name Ava

Hand-engraved name necklaces, crafted to order in gold, rose gold and silver — the name Ava in your choice of font. Free shipping.

Create your Ava necklace

Explore more names

Aaliyah Aaralyn Aarnavi Aarvika Abeer Abigail

Search all names