Tava
A girl's name of Native American origin with 460 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Alternative form of tawa.
Tava is a girl's baby name with roots in Native American traditions, used in some Pueblo communities meaning 'sun.' It has also been associated with Polynesian naming traditions, where it carries natural and elemental meanings.
Tava is short, bright, and filled with natural imagery. Its cross-cultural presence across Indigenous American and Pacific Islander traditions gives it a warmth that transcends any single origin — a name that feels connected to the earth and sky.
EtymologyShow more
Though Tava dates back to 1947 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded. The Native American classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.
With only 460 recorded births, Tava has not been widely studied in naming literature — its story belongs primarily to the families who chose it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Tava has 54+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1947.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 11 | #16195 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 53 | #13894 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 113 | #10731 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 45 | #14503 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 83 | #8637 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 104 | #6027 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 34 | #6213 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 12 | #6132 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 5 | #6040 | — |
The Story of Tava
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2000, Tava is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Tava are most likely born between 1990 and 2010.
How rare is Tava?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Tava is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1947, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 2000s with 113 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Tava by the numbers
- Would fill 10 school buses
- Meeting one Tava per day would take 1.3 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(54 years, 1947–2022)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 6 | #15118 |
| 2020 | 5 | #17271 |
| 2017 | 7 | #13968 |
| 2015 | 7 | #14357 |
| 2014 | 7 | #14424 |
| 2013 | 10 | #10929 |
| 2012 | 7 | #14834 |
| 2011 | 6 | #16579 |
| 2010 | 9 | #12169 |
| 2009 | 9 | #12355 |
| 2008 | 9 | #12490 |
| 2007 | 17 | #7703 |
| 2006 | 12 | #9852 |
| 2005 | 10 | #10840 |
| 2004 | 6 | #15905 |
| 2003 | 6 | #15593 |
| 2002 | 13 | #8237 |
| 2001 | 13 | #8148 |
| 2000 | 18 | #6186 |
| 1999 | 5 | #16674 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tava a boy's or girl's name?
When was Tava most popular?
How popular is the name Tava?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1947–2022