Nava

• Origin: Hebrew נָאוָה
• Meaning: “pretty; pleasant; desirable; enticing.”
• Gender: feminine
• NAH-vah

The name comes directly from the Hebrew adjective meaning “pretty; pleasant,” and a Hebrew verb meaning “to want; to desire.”

It may be a direct translation of the traditional Ashkenazi name Shayna or the Mizrahi/Sephardi name, Jamila. However, the word has more of the meaning of someone who is “enticing” or “alluring” vs just “beautiful” as other sites have translated.

The term is found in the Song of Songs 2:14, but was not used as a given-name until after the creation of the modern state of Israel.

Sources

• https://www.behindthename.com/name/nava
• https://www.doitinhebrew.com/
• https://www.kveller.com/jewish-baby-name/nava/
• https://www.aish.com/jl/l/b/48966261.html