A female given name from Hebrew, a variant of Eva. The (Vulgate) Latin Eva, from Ancient Greek Εὔα (Eúa), from Biblical Hebrew חַוָּה (ḥawwā). Traditionally held to be from חַי (kháy, “alive”).
Actually, I take Latin in school and 'Ava' is not a Latin word. 'Avis' (pronounced AH-vis, rhymes with novice) is. That's why people tend to think Ava means bird.
It may also have arisen from the medieval female name Avis, meaning bird.
― Anonymous User 3/18/2009
5
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
3
Ava means "bird" in Latin. Hence where birds are kept is called an AVIARY.
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."