Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe have a young daughter named Ava Elizabeth. Ava is a popular celebrity baby name, Heather Locklear´s daughter is named Ava Elizabeth as well.
This is extremely common among celebrities. Among Reese Witherspoon and Heather Locklear's daughters, Martina McBride has a daugter named Ava Rose Kathleen.
My name is Ava, but up until recently I thought that it was very uncommon. Apparently it is rising in popularity! Ava is also of Arabic descent and means "fly away" or "bird."
This is a beautiful name, and that is why it is rising in popularity. God, I hope it doesn't become the next Madison...or Ashley...or Alison...that would break my heart.
-- Anonymous User 4/22/2006
This is my little sister's name, and it suits her perfectly. I just wish it wasn't getting so popular! I don't want her to be one of those poor kids where someone calls her name, and five kids look over.
This is a really nice name. It is rising in popularity very fast. Someone I know decided to name her daughter Avalon, but calls her Ava since the name has grown so popular. That way if it does get too popular they can go back to using Avalon.
-- Anonymous User 4/25/2006
I think Ava is a really nice name. It can also be Latin or Greek for 'airy' or 'like a bird.'
-- Anonymous User 5/5/2006
This is a very pretty name, and similar to mine, I would never, ever, name a child or a character a name like that! It is just too common nowadays to use happily and without regret.
SOOOO pretty, but it's getting too popular now so I couldn't name my daughter that. Beautiful name though. =)
-- Anonymous User 6/22/2006
Ava is simply ugly and overused.
-- Anonymous User 7/2/2006
This is a beautiful name for a girl but it's become far too common and overused in my opinion. And it used to be downright obscure less than ten years ago!
-- Anonymous User 7/13/2006
Very beautiful, elegant name. I have also seen Avalee.
-- Anonymous User 9/6/2006
Tom DeLonge from Blink-182 also named his daughter Ava Elizabeth.
The most common combo for this name seems to be 'Ava Elizabeth'. While this is a nice set, it's funny to see how people think alike :). This name is, to me, very nice and different. Better than Eve or Eva, in my opinion.
It's popular now, but it's still a very beautiful name and it stands the test of time.
-- Anonymous User 3/20/2007
My name is Ava and I love it. It's so unique. I was named after the famous actress Ava Gardner. I was bummed when I heard that it's getting more and more common. Well, I can't blame a parent for loving the name. : )
The origin is sort of undetermined. Sometimes it is said to have been derived (comparatively recently as names go) from the Latin 'avis' meaning bird, but I think it's more likely that someone created it as a variant of Eva, which of course is a form of Eve.
-- Anonymous User 5/26/2007
Lori Laughlin played Aunt Ava on the WB's Summerland.
I don't know anyone named Ava or Eva or any version of this name but I'm only in 10th grade. This is one of my favorite names so I really hope it doesn't get overused in the next ten years.
This kind of narrowmindedness annoys me to hell. Believe it or not, but there are people who don't believe a word the bible says and just like this name.
Ava is a lovely name, I like it much better than Eva. And some people here seem to forget that it's not only the name of our 'first mother', but Ava is also the name of a saint.
-- Anonymous User 10/29/2007
One of the most soothing, delicate names I've ever heard. Parents beware: your daughters will be known only as Ava G. or Ava M., so as to distinguish them from the 7 other Avas in their class. This name is the next Emily or Sarah, unfortunately. It's still gorgeous though.
I absolutely love this name- according to a book of names I have, it comes the Latin word for bird. I can really imagine it for a dark-haired, free-spirited teenage girl with a lot of independence. Until I'd read the comments left on here, I didn't realise it was so popular- I don't know anyone called Ava. If I had a daughter, I would definitely call her this- though that would be at least 15 years away, by which point it would be less common.
Ava Phillippe is Reese Witherspoon's daughter. Very cute.
-- Anonymous User 4/13/2008
Ugh. What's the big fuss over this name? It's not beautiful at all. And honestly, I think it sounds really masculine. AND it's getting REALLY popular; it's in the top 5! Not cool.
Despite this name's apparent popularity, I've only met one kid named this (and even then, it's possible her name really could have been Eva pronounced somewhat differently). It's really quite a pretty name, quite a nice one to use. I don't like names that are getting very popular, however, so I wouldn't name my kid this but perhaps a character in a story.
I'm sorry, but I really don't know why this name is so popular. To me it sounds sort of flat and dull. I only really like it when it's used in a combo - like Ava-Rose, Ava-May, Ava-Grace or Ava-Louise.
I personally think it sounds pretty. But is it becoming the new "Amy"? I keep seeing it on popularity charts everywhere, but I don't think I've really met anyone with this name yet.
-- Anonymous User 11/20/2008
In most European languages (German, French, Italian, as well as the Scandinavian languages) this name is pronounced as Ah-vah (like in Ave Maria). Probably because the pronunciation in Greek in Latin is also Ah-vah.
The name is a derived (Germanic form) from the Hebrew name Chawah/Chava, meaning -bringer of- life.
It's also a popular girls name in Iran (also pronounced as Ah-vah).
-- Anonymous User 12/16/2008
I really like this name and find it quite a shame it's so popular. I hope it's not the next Madison or something.
-- Anonymous User 3/8/2009
It may also have arisen from the medieval female name Avis, meaning bird.
-- Anonymous User 3/18/2009
This name is on popularity charts everywhere I look, and yet, I have yet to hear about, or meet someone with this name. This name's okay. I don't particularly care for it, especially since it's "popular". It's just too short.
I'm so tired of seeing and hearing this name everywhere. It was considered geriatric and musty not too long ago, like the other old lady names that are now currently so hot (e.g., Sophia, Isabella, Olivia, Lillian), but since some celebrities used it, suddenly everyone else wants to use it too. Ava Rose and Ava Grace are two combos I'm particularly tired of hearing and seeing.
I did find it amusing when I saw a local birth announcement awhile ago for an Ava Maniya. Yes, everyone does seem to have Ava mania lately!
Such a nice name, such a shame it's getting so common. I really wanted to name my child this or have it for a middle name but it's getting popular. Although it shouldn't matter because people can name their child whatever they want, and I don't blame them with this name. :)
-- Anonymous User 11/11/2009
The pronunciation 'ay - va' is exactly the same pronunciation of a fruit in Turkish except with a different spelling. So therefore I cannot hear this name without thinking of a fruit.
I like this name for many reasons. 1) it sounds soothing and pleasant 2) it's not too common but so what if it is, it doesn't get undesirable. 3) It's much better than "Eva". 4) In English speaking countries it's considered unique and pretty. 5) It's nice and short, short yet pretty cool.
-- Anonymous User 6/1/2010
This name annoys me to the high heavens. There's nothing terribly wrong with the name itself, but the fact that it's so overused today is disgusting. I can't even fathom WHY it's so popular! The name is forever ruined for me, after a mother was talking to mine about how she named her daughter Ava because it's "So unique, and no one else would think use it." I hate the kind of people who only use a name to showcase their own "creativity."
It's everywhere. There are little girls named Ava all over the place. It's starting to get old. And anyway, I don't particularly like the sound. Names ending with -va (with the exception of Ziva) don't really appeal to me.
"Ava" sounds horribly senile and geriatric-- among being unprofessional and childish. It truly is beyond my mind as to the exact reason why the name has conquered so many numbers. It is not pleasing through eye nor through ear. The hard "A" (as in 'ape') followed by "-va" is gutwrenching. Perhaps it would be less of a nightmare were it pronounced "Ah-Vah" ('a' as in 'father'). though it would remain voteless from me, even if it shifted.
Do your children a favor: Give her a name with individuality! A name that will aid in her professional career, a name that will produce Wows and Awes, a name that she will thank you for.
Since Ava is a popular but very pretty name, here are some alternatives I shall throw your way: Avalee, Avalie, Avaleigh (any way you want to spell it) Avalyn (ditto) Avalon Avis/Avice Eva Avery (kind of masculine, but you know, it's there.) Avaline (AV-a-leen) Avalene (AY-va-leen)
Or you might just like Ava. Whatever. Sorry to those people who don't like names to be meddled with (though Ava is an alteration of Eve anyway.)
-- Anonymous User 8/6/2011
For all of Ava's supposed popularity, I have never met a single person with this name, adult or child. I quite like it: it's short, pretty easy to pronounce, and it's a palindrome. However, I do prefer the similar-sounding Aveline (AV-uh-leen) as a name I would consider using.
I agree with those who said that this name sounds "generic". Personally I think that Ava is a gorgeous name. It's short and sweet, plus I'm getting a bit of a glamorous vibe from it. Popularity certainly didn't spoil this name for me (I still wouldn't USE it though). I'm kinda bothered by the disproportionate amount of celebrities naming their children this. I could name more celebrity babies named Ava than the top 5 names together. But whatever. Still, I'd rather meet ten more Avas than one Addison, Emma, Isabella or Mia.
Ava Lavinia Gardner was an iconic American actress.
-- Anonymous User 12/12/2011
I am a teacher and have taught a LOT of Ava's. It is probably the most common girls' name in my school. So if you think you are being original naming your daughter Ava, not so. But if you love it, go ahead.
Ava Reese Biermann (b. 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA) is the daughter of actress Andrea Roth and producer Todd Biermann.
-- Anonymous User 5/23/2012
Ava Emmanuelle (b. 1999 in Los Angeles, California) is the daughter of American actress Rya Kihlstedt and Canadian actor Gil Bellows.
-- Anonymous User 5/23/2012
I don't care how popular it is, I think it's gorgeous. It sparkles, but not in a cheesy, Neveah way. It's a keeper.
-- Anonymous User 5/26/2012
Ava Elizabeth (born 1999 in Los Angeles, California) is the daughter of American actors Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe.
-- Anonymous User 6/1/2012
Ava Grace (born 2011 in Dallas, Texas) is the daughter of American TV personality and former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Melissa Rycroft and her husband, Tye Strickland.
-- Anonymous User 6/1/2012
It's an okay name but I do not really like it. It's way too common and everyone I knew with the name I hated and was mean and other stuff.
I mean, I know this name has a history to it, but every time I hear or see it, I automatically think of babies, because it's been so commonly used in the past few years. I can only picture a baby, toddler, or old woman named Ava. Personally, I think it's going to sound very weird on a teenager or middle aged woman. The sound of it is ok, but I don't think I'll ever understand why it's so dang popular. To me, it's the stereotypical 2010's baby name.
-- Anonymous User 2/18/2013
I've never met anyone with this name, weird to think its so popular! Its nice and short, very pretty name, I think.
I don't like this name. It is overused, and it doesn't even sound nice. It sounds like a word to call a radio. Sorry.
-- Anonymous User 4/13/2013
I don't like the name Ava and I am not sure why it has grown so popular.
-- Anonymous User 4/15/2013
If we're talking about the name Ava pronounce "AY-va" then I think this name is gorgeous! I like how it's short and pretty, and it's also very cute. I know a little girl named Ava, and I think it not only suits her age group, but it also suits adults, teens, and kids. This name also sounds professional. I like the name Ava very much.