Ava first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Ava has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Ava

A diminutive form of the Germanic name Ava, meaning "life" or "wished-for child".

Popularity of Ava by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Ava is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Ava being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 9,682 female babies and 5 male babies born with the name Ava.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 5 baby boys were named Ava in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 5 9,682
2022 9 11,039
2021 8 12,830
2020 11 13,179
2019 0 14,528
2018 10 15,010
2017 13 16,005
2016 11 16,338
2015 19 16,399
2014 15 15,721
2013 17 15,265
2012 20 15,545
2011 17 15,512
2010 17 15,438
2009 23 15,874
2008 16 17,047
2007 12 18,053
2006 24 16,943
2005 29 13,606
2004 35 8,645
2003 9 6,280
2002 0 3,751
2001 5 2,539
2000 0 1,796
1999 0 1,215
1998 0 831
1997 0 362
1996 0 285
1995 0 279
1994 0 276
1993 0 284
1992 0 239
1991 0 236
1990 0 197
1989 0 174
1988 0 167
1987 0 177
1986 0 167
1985 0 134
1984 0 145
1983 0 106
1982 0 109
1981 0 122
1980 0 113
1979 0 134
1978 0 132
1977 0 104
1976 0 97
1975 0 127
1974 0 129

The history of the first name Ava

The name Ava has its origins in the Germanic and Latin languages. It is derived from the Germanic name Ava, which is believed to be a short form of other Germanic names like Avilius or Avillius. In Latin, the name is thought to be related to the word "avis," meaning "bird."

Ava was a relatively uncommon name in ancient times, with few recorded instances in historical texts or records. However, it did appear in some early Christian writings, where it was likely used as a feminine form of the masculine name Avus, which means "grandfather" in Latin.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Ava dates back to the 9th century, when it was borne by a German abbess named Ava of Seckau (c. 800 - 876). She played an important role in the establishment of the Benedictine monastery in Seckau, Austria.

Another notable historical figure named Ava was Ava of Göttweig (c. 1020 - 1073), a German noblewoman and benefactor of the Göttweig Abbey in Lower Austria. She was instrumental in the construction of the abbey's church and buildings.

In the 12th century, Ava of Coventry (c. 1150 - 1215) was an English anchoress and mystic who wrote several religious works, including a collection of revelations known as the "Writings of Ava of Coventry."

During the Renaissance period, the name Ava was used by the Italian painter Ava Ghisi (c. 1500 - c. 1570), who was known for her engravings and was one of the few female artists of her time.

In more modern times, the name Ava gained popularity with the birth of Ava Gardner (1922 - 1990), the iconic American actress known for her roles in films such as "The Killers," "The Barefoot Contessa," and "On the Beach."

Other notable individuals named Ava throughout history include Ava Duvernay (born 1972), the American filmmaker and producer known for directing films like "Selma" and "A Wrinkle in Time"; Ava Helen Pauling (1903 - 1981), an American activist and the wife of chemist Linus Pauling; and Ava Max (born 1994), an American singer-songwriter known for her hit singles "Sweet but Psycho" and "So Am I."

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Ava was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ava, please contact us.

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"Ava first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 14, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/ava-meaning-and-history/.

"Ava first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/ava-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 14 November, 2024

Ava first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/ava-meaning-and-history/.

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