Lativa first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Lativa has been for the last 1 years (from 1991 to 1991) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Lativa

Of uncertain origin, potentially from a Latin root meaning "joyful" or "happy".

Popularity of Lativa by gender

Based on the last 1 years of data, Lativa is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 1991, there were 6 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Lativa.

Year Male Count Female Count
1991 0 6

The history of the first name Lativa

The name Lativa is believed to have originated from the Baltic region, specifically in Latvia, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Latvian word "lativa," meaning "a native of Latvia." The name's roots can be traced back to the 13th century, when Latvia was first mentioned in historical records as a territory inhabited by the Latgalian tribe.

Lativa was a popular name among the Latvian nobility and upper classes during the Middle Ages. It gained prominence during the time of the Livonian Crusades, a series of military campaigns initiated by the Teutonic Knights to conquer and Christianize the Baltic region. The name was often bestowed upon daughters of noble families as a symbol of their Latvian heritage and pride.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lativa can be found in the Livonian Chronicles, a collection of historical documents written by the Teutonic Knights and their chroniclers in the 13th and 14th centuries. These chronicles mention several prominent Latvian women bearing the name, including Lativa of Riga (c. 1230-1290), who played a significant role in the defense of the city during the Livonian Crusades.

Throughout the centuries, the name Lativa has been associated with various notable figures from Latvia. One such figure was Lativa Klāvsone (1620-1695), a renowned Latvian herbalist and healer who was widely respected for her knowledge of traditional Latvian medicine. Another notable bearer of the name was Lativa Ķuzāne (1785-1860), a Latvian writer and poet who contributed to the preservation of Latvian folklore and literature during the era of Romantic nationalism.

In the 20th century, the name Lativa gained further recognition through the accomplishments of women like Lativa Veide (1912-1985), a celebrated Latvian actress who performed in numerous plays and films during the Soviet era, and Lativa Līsmane (1927-2003), a Latvian scientist and engineer who made significant contributions to the field of polymer chemistry.

Other notable women with the name Lativa throughout history include Lativa Kļava (1890-1962), a Latvian painter and art educator known for her vibrant landscapes and still-life paintings, and Lativa Dāvide (1925-2018), a Latvian writer and translator who played a vital role in introducing Latvian literature to international audiences.

While the name Lativa has deep roots in Latvian culture and history, it has also gained recognition beyond the Baltic region, with individuals of Latvian descent or those with an affinity for Latvian heritage adopting the name in various parts of the world.

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 Lativa was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Lativa first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 4, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/lativa-meaning-and-history/.

"Lativa first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/lativa-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 4 July, 2025

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

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