White, elf, or sublime
Alva has multiple etymological roots. In its Latin form, it is a feminine name meaning 'white.' In its Germanic and Norse roots, it is related to 'Alf' meaning 'elf.' It also appears in the Bible as a masculine name meaning 'sublime' or 'his highness.'
About 22 girls were named Alva in 2025.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
Prolific American inventor of the light bulb and phonograph
American socialite and major figure in the women's suffrage movement
Swedish sociologist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate
