Meaning & Origin
A river in Russia, on which the Saint Petersburg city is placed.
Neva is a girl's and boy's baby name of Spanish origin, from the Spanish nieve, meaning 'snow' or 'snowy,' also possibly a short form of Genevieve. The Neva is also the famous river flowing through St. Petersburg, Russia.
Neva has the compact, vintage charm of names like Vera, Cora, and Nora — four letters, elegantly balanced. It peaked in U.S. rankings in the late 19th century and is quietly due for rediscovery. The snow meaning makes it particularly evocative for winter babies, while the Russian river connection adds a literary, Slavic air.