Ava
Girl name · #11 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Ava? In official American birth records, Ava has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Ava is currently the #11 girl name in the United States — 7,732 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #4, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 233 girls born in 2025 was named Ava.
The 145-year story
Ava first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 13 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2007, when 18,053 girls were named Ava — good for #4 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Ava per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ava against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ava in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ava is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Ava is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ava is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Ava is most common in VT (17 per 1,000), DC (14 per 1,000), RI (14 per 1,000), HI (14 per 1,000), DE (12 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 5.9 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Ava is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Ava
Statistically, parents drawn to Ava tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Mia, Sofia, Ella, Lily, and Isabella.
MiaSofiaEllaLilyIsabellaSophiaEmmaAvery
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ava | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7,732 | #11 |
| 2024 | 8,700 | #9 |
| 2023 | 9,737 | #8 |
| 2022 | 11,107 | #7 |
| 2021 | 12,873 | #5 |
| 2020 | 13,201 | #3 |
| 2019 | 14,549 | #3 |
| 2018 | 15,034 | #3 |
| 2017 | 16,017 | #3 |
| 2016 | 16,354 | #3 |
| 2015 | 16,416 | #4 |
| 2014 | 15,727 | #5 |
| 2013 | 15,271 | #5 |
| 2012 | 15,549 | #5 |
| 2011 | 15,518 | #5 |
| 2010 | 15,444 | #5 |
| 2009 | 15,877 | #5 |
| 2008 | 17,051 | #5 |
| 2007 | 18,053 | #4 |
| 2006 | 16,941 | #5 |
| 2005 | 13,606 | #9 |
| 2004 | 8,645 | #25 |
| 2003 | 6,280 | #39 |
| 2002 | 3,751 | #82 |
| 2001 | 2,539 | #132 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Ava?
In official American birth records, the name Ava first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 13 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Ava a popular girl name?
Ava ranked #11 among girls in 2025 with 7,732 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #4.
When was the name Ava most popular?
Ava peaked in 2007, when 18,053 American girls received the name (ranked #4 that year). Since 2007 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ava?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 233 newborn American girls was named Ava. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.