Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Tova
GirlHebrew· “good”
- Meaning
- good
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- TOH-vuh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #2,643
- US babies 2025
- 66
- Best rank
- #1,750 (1984)
- Peak year
- 2023
Meaning and origin of Tova
Tova is a Hebrew name that means “good”.
Tova has two separate histories that meet in one spelling. In Hebrew, tova means good, and it is used as a given name for girls in Israel and among Jewish families; Tovah and Toby are related forms. In Sweden, Tova is a form of the Old Norse Tófa, a short form of names beginning with Thor, the thunder god. In both cases it is said TOH-vuh. The overlap makes it an easy choice for families with Jewish or Scandinavian roots, or both. Short and clear, it works well in many languages and rarely needs a nickname.
Popularity over time
Tova first appears in US Social Security records in 1942. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,750 in 1984, and the most babies received it in 2023, when 94 were named Tova. In 2025, 66 babies were named Tova, and it ranked #2,643 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #6,041 in 1950, #2,862 in 1980, #3,519 in 2000, #3,072 in 2010, and #2,643 in 2025. Of the 2,750 US girls named Tova since records began, 21% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 1980s come next, with 448 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Andromeda, Hiba, Bliss, Devora, and Maelee.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Tova ranked highest in New Jersey and New York.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | #419 | 19 |
| New York | #1231 | 12 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Tova is usually pronounced TOH-vuh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with T and ends in “-va”.
Middle names for Tova
A few middle names that flow with Tova: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Tova
Similar names
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ZEE-vuh
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mah-AY-vuh
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joh-EHL
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Lists that include Tova
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Tova mean?
Tova is a Hebrew name that means “good”.
What is the origin of the name Tova?
Tova has Hebrew roots. Tova has two separate histories that meet in one spelling.
Is Tova a popular name?
Not especially. Tova ranked #2,643 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Tova a boy or girl name?
Tova is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Tova?
Tova is usually pronounced TOH-vuh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings