About the name Ava
The origin of Ava is debated, and we couldn't confirm its meaning from a sourced etymology. A commonly cited theory links it to Latin roots, with the meaning “Bird; or life”. Treat that as a theory, not a settled fact.
Why we say this: we only state a meaning as fact when a sourced etymology (Wiktionary, with its references) supports it. For Ava we didn't find one we were confident in, so we show the popular explanation as a theory.
It has a modern, short & sweet feel. In 2025, Ava ranked #11 for girls in the US, with 7,732 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 2007. Since 2000, 100% of US babies named Ava were girls.
- US rank 2025
- #11
- In 2015
- #4
- Babies in 2025
- 7,732
Popularity of Ava, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Hello, world
Ava
Your last name
born on your big day
7 LB 4 OZ · 20 IN
The Baby Kit
See Ava on a birth announcement
Birth announcements, shower invitations, nursery wall art and milestone cards, all personalized with Ava. Type your details once and print at home or at any print shop.
Nicknames for Ava
Ava is already short and sweet, so it doesn't usually get a nickname.
Names similar to Ava
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.