Given name & surname · also Old Norse
Tova
“good”·“one who is well-behaved”
Tova is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “good” (Old Norse) and “one who is well-behaved” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “good” (Old Norse) and “one who is well-behaved” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Old Norse.
How it developed
Tova is a short form of Porfridr. In Faroese usage, Tova developed from Tove.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1942. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Tova through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,750
- 0 boys · 2,750 girls
- Most popular year
- 2023
- 94 babies
- 2025
- 66
- #2,643 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +10%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 66 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,643 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 10.4% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, New Jersey had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (19). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,406 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.
Tova’s family of names
Tova is a short form of Porfridr. In Faroese usage, Tova developed from the Danish form Tove. Tova has a related form in Tovah.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Around the world
Tova has relatives in 3 languages. Lines run from its Hebrew roots to each of them.
2 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Tova
- Tova MagnussonSwedish actress and film directorborn 1968
- Tova BerlinskiIsraeli painter1915–2022
- Tova Friedmanholocaust Auschwitz survivorborn 1938
- Tova IlanIsraeli politician1929–2019
- Tova Ben ZviIsraeli singer1928–2020
- Tova SanhadrayIsraeli politician (1906-1993)
- Tova BorgnineNorwegian-American businesswoman and socialite1941–2022
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Tova, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Chava
“a lively woman; giver of life”
>99% girls
Sheva
“ravage” · “worthless one”
>99% girls
Talia
“morning dew from heaven” · “blooming”
>99% girls
Aiah
“falcon”
>99% girls
Josephina
“God will add”
>99% girls
Moza
“a place of going forth”
>99% girls
Azaliah
“Yah has set aside” · “Yah has reserved”
>99% girls
Seraiah
“Yah retains”
4% boys · 96% girls