Declining since 2022.
Popularity of Mava since 1915
Babies named Mava per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 31 |
| 1920s | 104 |
| 1930s | 89 |
| 1940s | 54 |
| 1950s | 10 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 12 |
Meaning & origin
Mava is a rare American given name that first appeared in 1915 and enjoyed a small peak in use during the late 1930s, with its highest recorded year in 1939. Despite this early 20th-century spike, the name has never ranked nationally and has seen declining usage in recent decades, particularly since 2022. Its one-in-N popularity statistic is unavailable, confirming its extreme rarity. Mava likely emerged as a feminine variant or shortening of Mavis, a name with Old French roots meaning 'song thrush.' The name's trajectory suggests it was primarily a regional or familial choice, as it has no recorded top states of use. Mava remains a distinctive but fading choice for parents seeking an uncommon vintage name.
Mava is a rare 20th-century American coinage, likely formed by shortening or altering the name Mavis (from Old French 'mauvis', meaning song thrush) or as a feminine variant of Mav, itself a diminutive of Mabel or Mavis. It saw modest use in the 1930s, peaking in 1939, but has remained uncommon and is now falling in usage.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Mava
Names that share Mava's style, for a brother or sister.
