Chava

חַוָּה

• Gender: Female
• Origin: Biblical / Rabbinic Hebrew
• Meaning: to live

• Chava is the original Hebrew name of Eve, the very first woman according to the Torah. Her name comes from the root meaning "to live," and she is described as the mother of all the living — which makes her, as we like to say, the original Jewish mom. It is a name that reaches all the way back to the beginning of the human story, carrying the depth of creation and the spark of something brand new.

  Fans of "Fiddler on the Roof" will know Chava as the bold daughter whose choices test the limits of tradition and love, giving the name an unforgettable dramatic resonance. Its guttural opening sound lends an earthy, rooted quality that feels authentically ancient. For parents who love the simplicity of Eve but want something with more texture and unmistakable Jewish identity, Chava is elemental and elegant in equal measure.

• Alternate Spellings: Hava, Chavah
• English Equivalent:
  Eve
• Potential Sibling Name:
  Devora
  ,
  Hadassa
  ,
  Reuven
  ,
  Shalom
• Theme: life