Avi Unisex

Popularity: #651 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: AH-vee /ˈɑː.vi/

Origin: Hebrew; Sanskrit

Meaning: Hebrew: my father is exalted; Sanskrit: air

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Avi has its roots in Hebrew, deriving from the word "avi" (אֲבִי), which translates to "my father" or "father of." This term is a combination of the Hebrew elements "ab" (אֲב) meaning "father" and the possessive suffix "-i" (י), indicating a personal connection. The name is often used as a diminutive or affectionate form of names that include the element "Ab" or "Av," such as Avraham (Abraham) or Aviel, thus linking it to a broader cultural and linguistic heritage within Hebrew tradition.

Historically, the name Avi has been associated with various significant figures in Jewish texts and traditions. It appears in biblical contexts, where the concept of fatherhood is central to many narratives, particularly in the stories of patriarchs like Abraham, who is considered the father of the Jewish people.

The name's usage can be traced back to ancient times, and it has been preserved through centuries of Jewish history, including the medieval period when Hebrew names were often adopted by Jewish communities in various regions, including Europe and the Middle East. Culturally, Avi carries connotations of strength, leadership, and familial bonds, reflecting the importance of paternal figures in Jewish culture.

The name is often embraced for its simplicity and deep-rooted significance. In addition to its use as a standalone name, Avi can also serve as a diminutive for longer Hebrew names, reinforcing its connection to familial and cultural identity.

The enduring nature of the name can be attributed to its strong ties to heritage and the values associated with fatherhood, making it a meaningful choice within Jewish communities.

Famous people named Avi

In this section, you will find notable people named Avi. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Avi who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Avi who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Avi Arad is a film producer best known for Spider-Man, Iron Man, and X-Men.

Avi Kaplan is a singer and songwriter best known for his work with Pentatonix and his solo album, Floating on a Dream.

Avi Cohen is a former professional soccer player best known for playing with Maccabi Tel Aviv and the Israeli national team.

Avi Nevo is a physicist best known for his research in quantum optics and photonics.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Avi, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

EliNoahZachLeviMicahIsaac

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Avi. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

AidenOwenEvanAsherAriAldenAdinAlvi

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Avi was first seen in the United States in 1949.

Avi has ranked as high as #1321 nationally, which occurred in 2022, and has been most popular in New York, California, New Jersey, Texas, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Avi has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Avi is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Avi was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Avi.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 313 297 16
2024 317 290 27
2023 395 349 46
2022 425 366 59
2021 355 313 42
2020 292 244 48
2019 232 196 36
2018 279 230 49
2017 252 212 40
2016 254 220 34
2015 261 224 37
2014 221 187 34
2013 210 184 26
2012 216 179 37
2011 202 165 37
2010 168 129 39
2009 171 136 35
2008 169 139 30
2007 176 144 32
2006 149 126 23
2005 126 108 18
2004 127 106 21
2003 106 92 14
2002 109 95 14
2001 92 84 8
2000 100 90 10
1999 65 59 6
1998 48 48 0
1997 45 45 0
1996 50 44 6
1995 33 33 0
1994 48 48 0
1993 35 35 0
1992 36 36 0
1991 38 38 0
1990 38 38 0
1989 42 42 0
1988 41 41 0
1987 40 40 0
1986 32 27 5
1985 42 42 0
1984 25 25 0
1983 42 42 0
1982 31 31 0
1981 32 32 0
1980 32 32 0
1979 36 31 5
1978 36 36 0
1977 44 44 0
1976 27 27 0
1975 31 31 0
1974 20 20 0
1973 34 34 0
1972 14 14 0
1971 19 19 0
1970 14 14 0
1969 16 16 0
1968 13 13 0
1967 10 10 0
1966 8 8 0
1965 8 8 0
1964 6 6 0
1963 6 6 0
1962 5 5 0
1961 8 8 0
1959 8 8 0
1958 8 8 0
1957 6 6 0
1956 13 13 0
1954 7 7 0
1950 7 7 0
1949 5 5 0

Top States for Avi (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 40
16%
NJ 38
16%
NY 35
14%
FL 18
7%
TX 16
7%
OH 12
5%
VA 12
5%
IL 11
5%
NC 11
5%
PA 10
4%
MA 10
4%
GA 8
3%
IN 8
3%
WI 5
2%
MN 5
2%
CO 5
2%