Ava is a feminine given name in English and in other languages. Its recent popularity may be linked to a number of celebrity babies of the 1990s, some of whom were ultimately named after American actress

Ava Gardner Ava Lavinia Gardner (December 24, 1922 – January 25, 1990) was an American actress. She first signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1941 and appeared mainly in small roles until she drew critics' attention in 1946 with her perform ...

(1922–1990).

Origin

The medieval name ''Ava'' is an abbreviation of a

Germanic name Germanic given names are traditionally dithematic; that is, they are formed from two elements, by joining a prefix and a suffix. For example, King Æþelred's name was derived from ', for "noble", and ', for "counsel". However, there are also ...

containing the first element ''aw-'', of uncertain meaning. Old High German (8th to 9th centuries) dithematic feminine names with this element include ''Avagisa, Avuldis, Awanpurc, Auwanildis''. Saint Ava was a 9th-century princess, daughter of

Pepin II of Aquitaine Pepin II, called the Younger (823 – after 864 in Senlis), was King of Aquitaine from 838 as the successor upon the death of his father, Pepin I. Pepin II was eldest son of Pepin I and Ingeltrude, daughter of Theodobert, count of Madrie. H ...

. Ava was also the name of a medieval German woman poet. This name is the origin of the Norman French name of

Aveline Aveline is a surname of Norman French origin, derived from a given name, a diminutive of Ava. The surname is in turn the origin of the given name Evelyn. In modern French, ''aveline'' means hazelnut. This is derived from the name of the Italian ...

, which in turn gave rise to the English given name of

Evelyn Evelyn may refer to: Places * Evelyn, London * Evelyn Gardens, a garden square in London * Evelyn, Ontario, Canada * Evelyn, Michigan, United States * Evelyn, Texas, United States * Evelyn, Wirt County, West Virginia, United States * Evel ...

. As evidence for the name is lacking between the later medieval and the modern period, the ''

Oxford Dictionary of First Names ''A Dictionary of First Names'' is an onomastic work of reference on given names, published by Oxford University Press, edited by Patrick Hanks Patrick Hanks (born 24 March 1940) is an English lexicographer, corpus linguist, and onomastici ...

'' supposes that it was coined anew as a modern innovation, presumably as a variant of Eva,. or (like ''Eva'') used as an anglicization of the Irish name

Aoife Aoife ( , ) is an Irish feminine given name. The name is probably derived from the Irish Gaelic ''aoibh'', which means "beauty" or "radiance". It has been compared to the Gaulish name ''Esvios'' (Latinized ''Esuvius'', feminine ''Esuvia''), wh ...

. Āvā is also a feminine given name in the

Persian language Persian (), also known by its endonym and exonym, endonym Farsi (, ', ), is a Western Iranian languages, Western Iranian language belonging to the Iranian languages, Iranian branch of the Indo-Iranian languages, Indo-Iranian subdivision of th ...

, meaning "voice, sound". In the Russian language, Ava () may be a

diminutive A diminutive is a root word that has been modified to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, either to convey the smallness of the object or quality named, or to convey a sense of intimacy or endearment. A ( abbreviated ) is a word-form ...

form of either the female names

Avelina Avelina is a female first name. History The name was borrowed into the Russian language as "" (''Avelina'').Petrovsky, p. 33 Its diminutives include Avelinka (), Lina (), and Ava (). In Latin languages, the name may have been latinized from ...

,Petrovsky, p. 33

Avenira Avenira (russian: Авени́ра) is a Russian non-canonical female first name.Petrovsky, pp. 33–34 Its masculine version is Avenir. The diminutive A diminutive is a root word that has been modified to convey a slighter degree of its ...

,Petrovsky, p. 34 Aventina,

Avgusta Avgusta (russian: А́вгуста or ) is a Russian Christian first name,Superanskaya, p. 250 the female form of the male first name Avgust.Petrovsky, p. 32 It is derived from the Latin word ''Augusta'', meaning ''sacred'', and was used ...

Avgustina Avgustina (russian: Августи́на) is an uncommon Russian female first name.Nikonov, p. 63 Its masculine versions are AvgustinPetrovsky, p. 32 and Avgust. The name is derived from the Latin word ''augustus'', which means ''majestic' ...

,Petrovsky, p. 32

Aviafa Aviafa (russian: Авиа́фа) is an old and uncommon Russian female first name.Petrovsky, p. 34 The diminutive A diminutive is a root word that has been modified to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, either to convey the small ...

, Aviya (a form of

Abijah Abijah ( ') is a Biblical HebrewPetrovsky, p. 35 unisex nameSuperanskaya, p. 277 which means "my Father is Yah". The Hebrew form ' also occurs in the Bible. Old Testament characters Women * Abijah, who married King Ahaz of Judah. She is ...

),Petrovsky, p. 35 Avreliya,Petrovsky, p. 36

Avreya Avreya (russian: Авре́я) is an old and uncommon Russian female first name.Petrovsky, p. 36 It derives from the Latin word ''aurea'', meaning ''golden''. The diminutive A diminutive is a root word that has been modified to convey a sli ...

, and Avrora (a form of

Aurora An aurora (plural: auroras or aurorae), also commonly known as the polar lights, is a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions (around the Arctic and Antarctic). Auroras display dynamic patterns of bri ...

), or the male names Avdey,Superanskaya, p. 21

Avel Avel is a male first name. Other definition of Avel is HİLAL Russian first name In the Russian language, "" (''Avel'') is a form of the first name Abel used in biblical contexts.Superanskaya, p. 20 It is also an old and uncommon male first ...

, Avenir,

Aventin Saint Aventin was a French Saint and a hermit of the 8th century. Life Born near Bagnères-de-Luchon in the Pyrenees, Aventin became a hermit in the valley of Larboust. Legends A legend says that he performed many miracles. In one story, he was ...

Avgust Avgust is a male given name. Russian name In Russian, Avgust (russian: А́вгуст or ) is a male given name.Superanskaya p. 21 Its feminine versions are AvgustaPetrovsky, p. 32 and Avgustina.Nikonov, p. 63 The name is deriv ...

Avim The Avim, Avvim () or Avvites of Philistia in the Old Testament were a people dwelling in Hazerim, or "the villages" or "encampments", on the south-west corner of the sea-coast. Their name is first used in in a description of the conquests that ...

, Avram (a form of

Abram Abraham, ; ar, , , name=, group= (originally Abram) is the common Hebrew patriarch of the Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Judaism, he is the founding father of the special relationship between the Jews ...

Avrelian Avrelian (russian: Аврелиа́н) is an old and uncommon Russian male first name.Petrovsky, p. 36 The name is derived from either Latin ''Aurelius'' (a Roman gens), itself derived from the Latin word ''aureolus'', meaning '' golden'', or ...

, and Avrely.

Modern use

The name was popularized in the United States by socialite

Ava Lowle Willing Ava Lowle Willing (September 15, 1868 – June 9, 1958) was an American socialite. She was the first wife of Colonel John Jacob Astor IV and later married Thomas Lister, 4th Baron Ribblesdale. Early life Ava Lowle Willing was born on Septembe ...

(1868–1958), who married

John Jacob Astor IV John Jacob Astor IV (July 13, 1864 – April 15, 1912) was an American business magnate, real estate developer, investor, writer, lieutenant colonel in the Spanish–American War, and a prominent member of the Astor family. He died in the sinki ...

, and their daughter, socialite and heiress

Ava Alice Muriel Astor Ava Alice Muriel Astor (July 7, 1902 – July 19, 1956) was an American heiress, socialite, and member of the Astor family. She was the daughter of John Jacob Astor IV and Ava Lowle Willing, and sister of Vincent Astor and half-sister of John Ja ...

(1902–1956). Ava Gardner in My Forbidden Past trailer

(1922–1990) signed a contract with MGM Studios in 1941 and gained Hollywood stardom with her performance in ''

The Killers The Killers are an American Rock music, rock band formed in Las Vegas in 2001 by Brandon Flowers (lead vocals, keyboards, bass) and Dave Keuning (lead guitar, backing vocals). After going through a number of short-term bass players and drum ...

'' (1946). She became one of Hollywood's leading actresses from the 1950s to the 1970s and is the ultimate reason for the given name's continued popularity.

Recent popularity

The name is popular in the United States, where it has ranked among the top 10 most popular names given to baby girls since 2005 and among the top 200 names given to girls since 2000.Behind the Name
/ref> The name has been rising in popularity in the United States since the mid-1990s, but had its most dramatic jump in popularity in 1998, when it was the 350th most popular name for baby girls, jumping 268 places up the chart from 618th place in 1997. One factor in its increase in popularity in English-speaking countries may have been the naming of the daughters of actress

Heather Locklear Heather Deen Locklear (born September 25, 1961) is an American actress famous for her role as Amanda Woodward on ''Melrose Place'' (1993–1999), for which she received four consecutive Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress – Television ...

and musician

Richie Sambora Richard Stephen Sambora (born July 11, 1959) is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Bon Jovi from 1983 to 2013. He and lead singer Jon Bon Jovi formed the main songwri ...

, in 1997, and of actors

Reese Witherspoon Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon (born March 22, 1976) is an American actress and producer. The recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards, she ...

and

Ryan Phillippe Matthew Ryan Phillippe (; born September 10, 1974) is an American actor. After appearing as Billy Douglas on the soap opera '' One Life to Live'', he came to fame in the late 1990s with starring roles in films including '' I Know What You Did L ...

in 1999. Phillippe said in a magazine interview that he and Witherspoon named their child after actress

. It was the ninth most popular name for girls in Australia and eighth in New ZealandMost Popular Male and Female First Names – dia.govt.nz
/ref> in 2013.

Notable people

* Saint Ava, ninth-century Roman Catholic saint *

Ava (poet) The poet Ava (c. 1060 – 7 February 1127), also known as Frau Ava, Ava of Göttweig or Ava of Melk, was the first named female writer in any genre in the German language. She is the author of five poems which focused on Christian themes of salvat ...

(c.1060—1127), the first-named female writer in any genre in the German language *

(1868—1958), American socialite *

(1902—1956), American socialite, daughter of

and

Ava Barber Ava Marlene Barber (born June 28, 1954) is an American country music singer and performer. She is best remembered for her performances on ''The Lawrence Welk Show'' throughout much of the 1970s and early 1980s. She is also known as a recording ar ...

(born 1954) American country singer *

Ava DuVernay Ava Marie DuVernay (; born August 24, 1972) is an American filmmaker, television producer and former film publicist. She is a recipient of a Primetime Emmy Award, a NAACP Image Award, a BAFTA Film Award and a BAFTA TV Award, as well as a nomi ...

(born 1972), American film director *

(1922—1990), American actress * Ava Hutchinson (born 1983), Irish long distance runner *

Ava Muhammad Ava Muhammad (1951 – 25 August 2022) was an American Black Muslim. In 1998 she became the first female Minister to preside over a mosque and region in the history of the Nation of Islam (NOI). Her job as national spokesperson for Minister Far ...

(1951–2022) American Black Muslim preacher and pioneering minister *

Ava Ohlgren Ava Ohlgren (born January 31, 1988) is an American competition swimmer who has represented the United States in international events. Career Ohlgren is a former NCAA champion in the 400 y IM (2007) and 200 y IM (2008). At the 2007 Pan American G ...

(born 1988), American collegiate swimmer *

Ava Max Amanda Ava Koci (born Amanda Koçi; February 16, 1994), known professionally as Ava Max, is an American singer and songwriter. She signed with Atlantic Records in 2016, through which she released her breakthrough single " Sweet but Psycho" in ...

, real name Amanda Ava Koci, (born 1994), American singer *

Ava Stewart Ava Elizabeth Stewart (born September 30, 2005) is an American-born Canadian artistic gymnast. She represented Canada at the 2020 Summer Olympics and was a member of the bronze medal winning teams at the 2022 Pan American Championships and 2023 ...

(born 2005), American-born Canadian artistic gymnast *

Ava Yu Ava Liu Yu-Kiu (born 5 August 1985) is a Hong Kong singer, actress and television host. Early life Ava was born and raised in Hong Kong, where her junior primary studies were at the Cheung Chau Primary School, because her mother was a primary ...

(born 1985), Hong Kong singer, actress and television host

References

Notes

{{Reflist English-language feminine given names Feminine given names Given names