Ava (given name)
Encyclopedia
Ava is a feminine given name
in the English language. The name is possibly derived from a Germanic name, composed of the element av, which is of an uncertain meaning. It is also possible that modern given name may be a completely modern creation. It has also been regarded as a variant of the name Eve
or Eva
and has been used in Ireland
as an English translation of the name Aoife
.
Ava is also a feminine given name name in Farsi, meaning a "pleasant sound", mostly associated with musical sounds; e.g. "Ava -ye moosighi" meaning "the sound of music." It is a popular name for girls in Iran
and Tajikistan
. It is also popular with Farsi speaking immigrants in the United States
and Europe
.
The name has gained in popularity since the 1950s, largely due to the influence of American actress Ava Gardner
(1922–1990). The name is increasingly popular in the United States, where it was the most popular name given to baby girls in several states in 2006 and the fourth most popular name nationwide in 2007, and in Canada, where it is among the 10 most popular given names for baby girls in several provinces. The name has been rising in popularity in the United States since the mid-1990s, but had its most dramatic jump in popularity in 1998, when it was the 350th most popular name for baby girls, jumping 268 places up the chart from 618th place in 1997. In the year 2010 it was the fifth most popular baby girl name in the United States. One factor in its increase in popularity in English-speaking countries may have been the naming of the daughters of actress Heather Locklear
and musician Richie Sambora
, in 1997, and of actors Reese Witherspoon
and Ryan Phillippe
in 1999. Phillippe said in a recent magazine interview that he and Witherspoon named their child after actress Ava Gardner
.
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
in the English language. The name is possibly derived from a Germanic name, composed of the element av, which is of an uncertain meaning. It is also possible that modern given name may be a completely modern creation. It has also been regarded as a variant of the name Eve
Eve (name)
Eve is an English given name for a female, derived from Eva, in turn originating with Hebrew חַוָּה . The traditional meaning of Eve is 'living'....
or Eva
Eva (name)
Eva is a female given name, the Latinate counterpart of English Eve, derived from a Hebrew name meaning "life" or "living one." It can also mean full of Life or mother of life. It is the standard biblical form of Eve in many European languages.-Popularity:...
and has been used in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
as an English translation of the name Aoife
Aoife
Aoife, earlier Aífe , is an Irish feminine given name. The name is probably derived from the Irish aoibh, meaning "beauty", "pleasure" or "radiant goddess", although the name has also be associated with the Gaulish goddess Esuvia. The name is sometimes Anglicised as Eva...
.
Ava is also a feminine given name name in Farsi, meaning a "pleasant sound", mostly associated with musical sounds; e.g. "Ava -ye moosighi" meaning "the sound of music." It is a popular name for girls in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
. It is also popular with Farsi speaking immigrants in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
The name has gained in popularity since the 1950s, largely due to the influence of American actress Ava Gardner
Ava Gardner
Ava Lavinia Gardner was an American actress.She was signed to a contract by MGM Studios in 1941 and appeared mainly in small roles until she drew attention with her performance in The Killers . She became one of Hollywood's leading actresses, considered one of the most beautiful women of her day...
(1922–1990). The name is increasingly popular in the United States, where it was the most popular name given to baby girls in several states in 2006 and the fourth most popular name nationwide in 2007, and in Canada, where it is among the 10 most popular given names for baby girls in several provinces. The name has been rising in popularity in the United States since the mid-1990s, but had its most dramatic jump in popularity in 1998, when it was the 350th most popular name for baby girls, jumping 268 places up the chart from 618th place in 1997. In the year 2010 it was the fifth most popular baby girl name in the United States. One factor in its increase in popularity in English-speaking countries may have been the naming of the daughters of actress Heather Locklear
Heather Locklear
Heather Deen Locklear is an American actress best known for her television roles as Sammy Jo Carrington on Dynasty, Officer Stacy Sheridan on T.J...
and musician Richie Sambora
Richie Sambora
Richard Stephen "Richie" Sambora is an American rock guitarist, producer, musician, singer, and songwriter who is the longtime lead guitarist of the rock band, Bon Jovi. He and frontman Jon Bon Jovi form the primary songwriting unit of the band...
, in 1997, and of actors Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon
Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon , better known as Reese Witherspoon, is an American actress and film producer. Witherspoon landed her first feature role as the female lead in the film The Man in the Moon in 1991; later that year she made her television acting debut, in the cable movie Wildflower...
and Ryan Phillippe
Ryan Phillippe
Matthew Ryan Phillippe , better known as Ryan Phillippe, is an American actor. After appearing on the soap opera One Life to Live, he came to fame in the late 1990s starring in a string of films, including I Know What You Did Last Summer, Cruel Intentions, and 54...
in 1999. Phillippe said in a recent magazine interview that he and Witherspoon named their child after actress Ava Gardner
Ava Gardner
Ava Lavinia Gardner was an American actress.She was signed to a contract by MGM Studios in 1941 and appeared mainly in small roles until she drew attention with her performance in The Killers . She became one of Hollywood's leading actresses, considered one of the most beautiful women of her day...
.