Avis

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Avis

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Avis is the Norman French form of a Germanic name, Aveza, from “av.” It became associated with the Latin word “avis“ (bird) during the Middle Ages.

History:
Avis was popular from the 12th to 14th centuries, and less so from the 14th to 16th centuries. Aveline died out in England in the 17th century, but Avaline continued (albeit rarely) in the United States into the 19th century.

Avis ultimately dates back to an Old Germanic masculine name Avi, whose meaning is unknown. It was feminized as Aveza, Avice, Ava, or Avila. Later it became Avis, Avilina, Evelyn, or Avelina. In Normandy, the name became Aveline, or Avenel, especially common in the 12th century. It crossed to England at this time. The name declined after the Middle Ages.

Pronunciation: ay-viss.

Alternates: Ava, Avalina, Avaline, Avelina, Aveline, Avilina, Avenel, Avia, Avelyn, Avlynn, Aileen, Avila, Avice, Evelyn, Evelin, Evelina, Evelynn.
French: Eveline.
Irish Gaelic: Eibhlín, Aibhilín.
Irish (Anglicized): Eileen, Ilene.

See also: Aileen, Ava, Aveline, Eileen, Evelyn.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.105 % named Eileen
0.016 % named Aileen
0.014 % named Ava
0.011 % named Ilene
0.013 % named Avis
0.002 % named Avelina

Popularity of Avis:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 476th most popular.
1910-1920: 300th most popular.
1920-1930: 348th most popular.
1930-1940: 449th most popular.
1940-1950: 742nd most popular.
1950-1960: 700th most popular.
1960-1970: 847th most popular.
1970-2000: N/A