The name Ava has evolved independently from several different sources. In English, it is a variant of the name Eve, which ultimately comes from the Hebrew words chawah (ָחוָה ) and chayah (ָחיָה ), meaning "to breathe" and "to live". From its Germanic origin, it is thought to be derived from the element avi, meaning "desired". It also means "voice" or "sound" in Persian. The name has been rising in popularity since the late 1990s and into the 21st century.