UK girl's name
Chava
Feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "life" or "living one".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Chava is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Chava popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2253, with 12 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 14 births.
This profile covers 212 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 86% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 211 living people in the UK are called Chava. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Chava ranked #2253 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 12 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 14 girls were registered as Chava.
- • About 211 living people in the UK are estimated to have Chava as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2253
2024
Births in 2024
12
Latest year
Peak year
2017
14 births
Estimated living
211
2026
Meaning
What does Chava mean?
The name Chava has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture. It is a feminine form of the name Chavah, which is derived from the Biblical Hebrew word "חַוָּה" (Hawwah), meaning "life-giver" or "mother of all living". This name first appears in the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible, where it refers to Eve, the first woman created by God.
The earliest recorded use of the name Chava dates back to ancient times when the Hebrew Bible was written, around the 6th century BCE. In the Biblical narrative, Chava was the name given to the first woman by her husband Adam, after they were created by God in the Garden of Eden.
Throughout history, the name Chava has been associated with various notable figures. One of the earliest was Chava, a Jewish martyr who lived in the 1st century CE and was executed by the Roman authorities for her religious beliefs. Another notable bearer of the name was Chava Shpil, a 16th-century Jewish poet and philosopher from Poland.
In the 18th century, Chava Malka, a Jewish mystic and kabbalist, gained recognition for her spiritual teachings and writings. In the 19th century, Chava Musha Shapira was a prominent Hebrew poet and author from Palestine.
More recently, Chava Alberstein, born in 1947, is a renowned Israeli singer and songwriter who has made significant contributions to the Israeli music scene.
The name Chava has also appeared in various literary works and religious texts throughout history, reflecting its deep-rooted connection to the Hebrew culture and tradition. While its popularity has fluctuated over time, the name continues to hold significant meaning and symbolism for those who bear it or appreciate its rich historical and cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Chava over time
The chart below shows babies named Chava registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Chava, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 12 births in 2024, compared with 14 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Chava by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Chava was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #2980 | 44 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2791 | 91 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2999 | 61 | 10 |
| 1990s | #3120 | 16 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Chava
- Chloe 111,265
- Charlotte 88,733
- Caitlin 28,931
- Courtney 23,162
- Chelsea 13,049
- Clara 9,435
- Connie 8,402
- Catherine 8,376
- Charlie 7,964
- Cerys 7,506
- Casey 7,018
- Cara 6,375
FAQ
Chava: questions and answers
How popular is the name Chava in the UK right now?
In 2024, Chava was ranked #2253 for girls in England and Wales, with 12 births registered.
When was Chava most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 14 babies registered as Chava in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Chava?
Feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "life" or "living one".
How many people are called Chava in the UK?
A total of 212 babies have been registered as Chava across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.