Fun Facts About the Name Rava
- 16 babies named Rava: U.S. records list 16 babies given the name Rava from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Rava Mean?
Rava is an Aramaic name meaning "great" or "large." It comes from the Semitic root rb, the same root behind Hebrew rav (great, chief) and Aramaic rabba (the great one, master). In Jewish usage the Aramaic word also served as a title of respect for a teacher or master, so the name carries the sense of greatness, importance, or authority rather than physical size.
Rava is sometimes confused with Rabba, another Aramaic name built on the same word and also meaning "the great one." In the Talmud the two forms belong to different sages, and they are usually treated as separate names rather than variants of each other. A second, traditional explanation holds that Rava is a contraction of the Aramaic-Hebrew Rav Abba ("master Abba"); this gloss is old but not certain, so the exact relationship between the name and the title remains unsettled.
Rava Name History & Origins
The name is best known from the Babylonian Talmud, where it belongs to one of the most frequently cited sages of the fourth century CE. His full name is given as Abba bar Joseph bar Hama, and Jewish tradition explains the short form Rava as a contraction of Rav Abba. He led the academy at Mahoza in Babylonia, and his legal debates with his colleague Abaye were studied so closely that later generations spoke of "the disputes of Abaye and Rava" as the model of fine legal argument.
The same root that produced the personal name produced the Hebrew title rav, still used for an ordained rabbi, and the Aramaic title rabbi, literally "my master." Rava is also found as a surname, including in Italy. As a given name it has remained most at home in Jewish communities, where it recalls the Talmudic sage.
How Popular is the Name Rava?
Rava has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1923. Its best rank was #4,864 in 1923.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #16,723 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1975 | #10,183 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1923 | #4,864 | 6 | 0.0005% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore More Lists with Name Rava
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with R
Short Girl Names That Start with R
How the Name Rava Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are a law unto itself. Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You are tolerant and like to help humanity. You are very active. You are generally warmhearted and gives freely of your time, energy, and sympathetic understanding. You have tolerance and acceptance of the frailties of others. Universal and humanitarian in outlook. This is very compassionate name. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Rava's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Rava's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.