Tova is a

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

nickname A nickname, in some circumstances also known as a sobriquet, or informally a "moniker", is an informal substitute for the proper name of a person, place, or thing, used to express affection, playfulness, contempt, or a particular character trait ...

and a

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

. The name ''Tova'' has multiple origins. Deriving from

Old Norse Old Norse, also referred to as Old Nordic or Old Scandinavian, was a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants ...

, it is thought to be a

hypocoristic A hypocorism ( or ; from Ancient Greek ; sometimes also ''hypocoristic''), or pet name, is a name used to show affection for a person. It may be a diminutive form of a person's name, such as '' Izzy'' for Isabel or '' Bob'' for Robert, or it ...

form of the name ''Þórfríðr''.Teresa Norman,
Tova
" ''A World of Baby Names''. New York: Penguin, 2003. 504. Deriving from

Hebrew Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic languages, Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and ...

, it is an adjective meaning "good". Notable people with this name are listed below.

Given name

Saint Tova of Thorney Saints Tancred, Torthred, and Tova were three Anglo-Saxon siblings who were saints, hermits and martyrs of the ninth century. Their feast day was celebrated on 30 September at Thorney and Deeping. Lives The brothers Tancred and Torthred, with ...

(died ), Anglo-Saxon martyr * Tova of the Obotrites (, Slavic princess and queen consort of Denmark * Tova Beck-Friedman (born 1938), American artist, sculptor, writer, filmmaker, and child survivor of the Holocaust * Tova Ben-Dov, Israeli Zionist * Tova Ben Zvi (1928–2020), Israeli singer *

Tova Borgnine Tova Traesnaes Borgnine (born Tove Træsnæs; November 17, 1941 – February 26, 2022) was a Norwegian-born American businesswoman. She was the founder of Beauty by Tova cosmetics and the widow of Hollywood actor Ernest Borgnine. Early life Tova ...

(1941–2022), Norwegian-born American businesswoman * Tova Hamilton, Jamaican politician *

Tova Hartman Tova Hartman (; born 1957) is the Dean of Humanities at the Ono Academic College. Biography Tova Hartman is the daughter of Rabbi Prof. David Hartman. She was married to Moshe Halbertal, and they have three daughters. She is a founder of Kehil ...

(born 1957), Israeli scholar and social entrepreneur *

Tova Ilan Tova Ilan (; 2 June 1929 – 18 March 2019) was an Israeli educator and politician. She briefly served as a member of the Knesset for Meimad between January and April 2006. Biography Born in Austria, Ilan emigrated to Israel and was involved in ...

(1929–2019), Israeli educator and politician *

Tova Magnusson Tova Dorothea Magnusson (born 18 June 1968), also credited under her former married name as Tova Magnusson Norling, is a Swedish film and television actress; comedian; and film director. She is best known outside Sweden for her role in the Dani ...

(born 1968), Swedish actress and filmmaker *

Tova Milo Tova Milo () is a full Professor of Computer Science at Tel Aviv University and the Dean of the Faculty of Exact Sciences. She served as the head of the Computer Science Department from 2011 to 2014. Milo is the head of the data management group ...

, Israeli computer scientist *

Tova Mirvis Tova Mirvis (born 1972) is an American novelist. She is a graduate of Columbia College of Columbia University and holds a masters of fine arts degree in fiction writing from Columbia University School of the Arts. Mirvis' family has lived in Mem ...

(born 1972), American novelist * Tova O'Brien (born 1982/1983), New Zealand journalist, host of radio show ''Tova'' * Tova Sanhadray (1906–1993), Israeli politician * Tova Traesnaes (1941–2022), Norwegian-American businesswoman

Surname

Theresa Tova Theresa Tova (born 1955) is a Canadian actress, singer and playwright."Tova, Theresa"
''Cana ...

(born 1955), Canadian actress, singer and playwright

Nickname

Tosia Altman Tosia Altman (; 24 August 1919 – 26 May 1943) was a courier and smuggler for Hashomer Hatzair and the Jewish Combat Organization (ŻOB) during the German occupation of Poland and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Born into a well-off family ...

(1919–1943), Polish courier and smuggler, known as ''Tova'' *

Antun Stipančić Antun "Tova" Stipančić (Duga Resa, 18 May 1949 – Zagreb, 20 November 1991) was a highly accomplished Croatian and Yugoslav professional table tennis player. Table Tennis career He was one of the most renowned personalities in the history of ...

(1949–1991), Croatian table tennis player

Fictional characters

*Tiny Tova, character in ''

The Magic Door The Magic Door may refer to: * The Magic Door (TV series) ''The Magic Door'' (also known as ''The Magic Door Television Theatre'') was a Jewish educational television series, aimed at providing kiruv (outreach) to Jewish children in the Chica ...

'' *Tova Arrocas, character in ''Internal Affairs'' (film) *Tova, character in ''

Critical Role ''Critical Role'' is an American web series in which a group of professional voice actors play ''Dungeons & Dragons''. The show started streaming partway through the cast's first campaign in March 2015. Campaign one ended in October 2017 aft ...

References

{{Given name, type=both

Given name

Surname

Nickname

Fictional characters

See also

References