Please don't describe this name as "exotic." Please don't describe any other name as "exotic," either. Generally just stay away from the word "exotic." It's othering and fetishistic.
― Anonymous User 8/30/2020
5
I was named Ziva Ann in 1963 by my mother who happened to hear it and like it. Later, I happened to see my name in print for the very first time in a periodical named TV Guide. There was once an actress named Ziva Rodan. Growing up with the name was brutal. My peers made fun of me and as I got older if I knew I was was never going to see a new acquaintance again I would introduce myself as "Linda" simply because people could not pronounce it correctly, or they would not hear it correctly. As I got older, people would ALWAYS question me about what kind of name it was. If I could have chosen my own name at birth... I'd be known as...
― Anonymous User 7/6/2020
0
We named my daughter Ziva after the NCIS character because we loved it so much. The character is beautiful, strong yet caring. This describes my daughter, she could not be known as any other name. People comment on it a lot not because of NCIS but because it’s unusual without being too wacky. If you like it use it, you won’t regret it. Ziva’s nickname is Ziva Diva and also Zeeves. She is too young for me to ask if she likes it but in my mind she will love it because it’s unique just like her.
My long coat German Shepherd Dog is named Ziva. I thought a Hebrew name was good balance for a dog breed still carrying stigma due to being Hitler’s favorite breed.. and then Ziva means brilliance / brightness.. which she is, and also loved the character Ziva David on NCIS, she was beautiful, strong, a weapon. So that’s why my beautiful, brilliant, strong GSD is named Ziva.... now also Z, Zivadiva, craZy... anything with Z works ;)
I saw a dog named Ziva once, but the dog was very nice and calm, not to mention a very beautiful dog. I like it as a name a lot. It's a good alternative to the overused Ava.
― Anonymous User 11/22/2017
2
It reminds me of Zika as in the Zika virus but other than that the name sounds alright.
― Anonymous User 1/10/2017
-4
This name is just beautiful. It sounds serious and strong, and still graceful and feminine. It is one of my favorite Z names, along with Zara.
How exotic it is! I like it because it is very strong but simple. Everyone can pronounce it without problems, and its meaning is beautiful! My name is Rossana so this name shares with Ziva its "bright" meaning... I like it!
Ziva (זיבה) means "gonorrhea" in modern Hebrew.Ziva (זיוה) means "shining," "brilliance," etc. They're one letter different, vav vs. vet, but pretty much no one in Israel uses this name any more because it's almost the same word as gonorrhea. I've run across a few non-Israeli Jewish people who have this as their Hebrew name and have no idea that Israeli people hear that word and think it's gonorrhea.
― Anonymous User 8/5/2011
4
The character 'Ziva David' from the hit TV series 'NCIS.'
Never heard of it until I started watching NCIS. Now I love it. Ziva David is a strong, intelligent, and beautiful character, so now I think of exactly that kind of person when I hear this. I wouldn't mind a few more Zivas out there.