Ava is a highly popular girls' name in England & Wales, ranking #11 in 2025 with 1,611 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2012 with 3,779 births ranking #6. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 5,270.0%. In 2025, approximately 1 in every 157 girls born was named Ava. FALLING Recent data shows the name is currently falling.
Ava has more than one accepted origin. In English it is widely treated as a variant of Eve, while other established entries link it to the Persian word for voice or sound and to an older Germanic short form.
The name has several legitimate historical routes, which helps explain both its broad appeal and its slightly different meanings across traditions. In modern English-speaking use, the Eve connection is the one most parents are likely to encounter first.