Message: "Ava vs Eva" - Behind the Name

Ava vs Eva

by LiaMaria (LMS)

4/10/2017, 7:45 PM

Does anyone know why Ava had a big spike in popularity, but not Eva?

Replies

- Norah B. (guest)

6/15/2017, 8:54 PM

The long A sound is pretty popular right now. Names like Katelyn, Aiden (and all its friends, like Jayden, Brayden, Caden, Zayden etc.), Kaylee/Hailey/Braylee etc., Grace, Kayla/Mikayla/Layla have been popular for the past couple of decades. Ava fits into that category well. Also A names are popular (Abigail, Ariana, Adelyn, Addison, Aliyah, Amelia etc.). Names that are popular that start with E have the short E sound (Emma, Ella, Emily, Evelyn, Ellie, Eleanor). The most popular name to start with long E in 2016 was Eden, clocking in at #186! So, i think the short answer is that Ava follows current sound trends, whereas Eva doesn't as much.

- Paula Puddephatt +2

4/30/2017, 4:18 AM

Eva is usually pronounced like Eve with an "a" ending, but it should be pronounced the same way as Ava, technically. People avoid it because it causes confusion.

- SugarPlumFairy

5/12/2017, 5:46 AM

Not really.

In languages other than English, Eva is pronounced [EH-va] or [é-va], not [ei-va]. The problem is that English speakers tend to pronounce "é" as the diphtong "ay". Pronouncing Eva as Ava (and conflating the two names) is a strictly English-speaking phenomenon.

This message was edited 5/12/2017, 5:48 AM

- LiaMaria (LMS)

4/30/2017, 4:29 AM

I don't really think that's the case in the US. Its pronounced the way you say in many south American and European countries, but not in the US really. Besides, Ava can sometimes be pronounced as in Ava Maria and yet there is no confusion there.

- Virvo

4/25/2017, 11:15 AM

Where in the world do you mean? The US?

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