Given name
Iva
“of the yew tree”
Iva is used as a given name. One Japanese interpretation is “of the yew tree.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Japanese interpretation is “of the yew tree.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Japanese.
How it developed
In Slovenian usage, Iva is a feminine form of Ivo.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Iva through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 38,961
- 564 boys · 38,397 girls
- Most popular year
- 1918
- 906 babies
- 2025
- 117
- #1,740 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −3%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 117 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,740 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 3.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 889 in 1918. In 2025, Ohio had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (12). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 9,550 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Iva’s family of names
In Slovak usage, Iva is a diminutive of Ivana. In Slovenian usage, Iva is a feminine form of Ivo. In Norwegian Nynorsk usage, Iva has a related form in Ivar.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Iva has relatives in 6 languages. Lines run from its Japanese roots to each of them.
7 related names in 6 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 5
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Iva
- Iva ZanicchiItalian singer and politicianborn 1940
- Iva MajoliCroatian tennis playerborn 1977
- Iva JovicUS American tennis playerborn 2007
- Iva Toguri D'AquinoWorld War II propaganda announcer "Orphan Ann", and best-known "Tokyo Rose" announcer1916–2006
- Iva BittováCzech musician, and actorborn 1958
- Iva PrandzhevaBulgarian athleteborn 1972
- Iva JanžurováCzech actressborn 1941
- Iva VidenovaBulgarian chess player (born 1987)
- Iva Karagiozova-ShkodrevaBulgarian biathleteborn 1971
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Iva, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Lilla
Lilla is a variant of Lily. One English interpretation is “resembling the flower; one who is innocent and beautiful.”
>99% girls
Geneva
“of the juniper tree”
>99% girls
Lillie
“resembling the lily”
>99% girls
Antonina
Antonina is a variant of Antonia. In Latin use, Antonia carries the interpretation “priceless and highly praiseworthy; a flourishing flower.”
>99% girls
Pearl
“a precious gem of the sea”
>99% girls
Antoinette
“a flourishing man; from an ancient Roman family”
>99% girls
Dovie
“resembling a bird of peace” · “a peaceful man”
>99% girls
Mallie
“one who is sweet and gentle” · “star of the sea”
>99% girls