Brīva

• Origin: Latvian
• Meaning: “free; freedom.”
• Gender: Female
• BREE-vah

The name is derived from the Latvian words, brīvs (free) and brīvība (freedom). It is ultimately derived from the Middle Low German vri, vrie (free).

It was first recorded in Riga in 1931, during a period of strong national consciousness and cultural renewal in independent Latvia.

According to Latvian population records, as of 2008, there were only three women known by this name.

Another form is Brive and its designated name-day is November 18th.

Sources

• https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/br%C4%ABvs#Latvian
• Pauls Balodis, Latviešu personvārdu etimoloģiskās semantikas teorētiskais modelis un tā realizācija (Rīga: Latvijas Universitāte, 2008), p. 87.