Ava
Girl name · #11 in 2025 · Uniqueness 48/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ava against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ava in class?
Ava scores 48 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Ava is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ava is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Avas were CA (742), TX (675), FL (476), NY (458), PA (314). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 48/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.