Gender: Feminine
Origin: Finnish
Meaning: “branch.”
(REET-va)

The name comes directly from the Finnish word for branch or associated with the Finnish word for birch tree, ritvakoivu.

Between 1937-1944, this was the most popular female name in Finland.

Its usage has spread to neighboring Scandinavian countries such as the Faroe Islands and Sweden.

The designated name-day is January 4 (Faroe Islands), May 27 (Finland), July 24 (Sweden).

Sources

• http://www.nordicnames.de/wiki/Ritva
• http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ritva
• http://www.behindthename.com/name/ritva
• http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.lullymoreheritagepark.com/images/Silver_Birch_Tree.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.lullymoreheritagepark.com/birchtreeblog.htm&usg=__OEEX1Pj-L4HXmUvRwuCwGj1iQm4=&h=617&w=348&sz=193&hl=en&start=2&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=T64Sj5J9uGd2OM:&tbnh=136&tbnw=77&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbirch%2Btree%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26tbs%3Disch:1