Ava
Girl name · 6,761 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Ava: 6,761 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 495 births in 2010.
A name of mysterious roots, Ava is most often traced to the Hebrew Chava, meaning "life" or "living one," making it a cousin of Eve and Eva. Some scholars also link it to a Germanic element meaning "desired" or "bird." The silver-screen legend Ava Gardner brought glamour to the name, while modern director Ava DuVernay has given it artistic weight. Though no major places are named after a bearer, the town of Ava in Missouri shares the same spelling but a different origin. Remarkably, Ava has soared in Scottish popularity over the past decade, frequently appearing among the top ten names given to newborn girls—a testament to its timeless, international appeal.
Girl 31 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 2010495 babies
- Latest (2025)
- #13166 babies
- Total births
- 6,761since 1990
- 5-year trend
- ▼ 32%vs prior 5y