Mavis Name Origin
Mavis comes from Old French. It originally meant "song thrush," a type of bird known for its lovely singing. People liked the sound and meaning, so it became a girl's name.
The name became popular in English-speaking countries in the 19th and 20th centuries. It was often used because the bird symbolized happiness and music.
So, Mavis started as a word for a bird and later turned into a pretty name for girls.
- Type: First Name
- Gender: Female
- Pronunciation: MAY-vis
Mavis Meaning
Mavis is an old-fashioned name that comes from a word used for a songbird, specifically the thrush. People once called the thrush "mavis" because of its sweet singing.
The name became popular in English-speaking countries during the 19th century. It was often used in poems and songs to represent beauty and melody.
Symbolically, Mavis is connected to happiness and nature because of the cheerful bird it’s named after. It can also suggest someone who brings joy or has a lovely voice.
Overall, Mavis feels gentle and charming, with a link to the natural world and music.
History
Mavis started as a word for a songbird, especially the thrush, in old English and Scottish poetry. People began using it as a girl's name in the late 1800s. It sounded fresh and nature-inspired back then.
In the early 1900s, Mavis became quite popular in English-speaking countries like the UK, Canada, and the US. It was seen as charming and a bit old-fashioned even then. Over time, the name became less common after the mid-1900s.
Today, Mavis is less popular but still used. It feels vintage and unique to many parents now. The name carries a gentle, classic vibe connected to nature and music.
Famous People
Mavis Staples is a famous singer and civil rights activist. She is known for her powerful voice and her work with the Staple Singers, a family band that sang gospel, soul, and R&B music.
Mavis Beacon is not a real person but a fictional character. She is the face of a popular typing software called Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing, which helps people learn to type faster.
Mavis Gallant was a Canadian writer known for her short stories. She wrote about life, often focusing on people living in Europe, and her work is admired for its sharp insight and style.
Name Trends
This chart shows how many babies were given the name Mavis each year, based on data from the U.S. Government's Social Security Administration (SSA). It's a fun way to see how the name's popularity has changed over time!
The blue line shows how many boys were named Mavis, while the pink line shows how many girls were given the same name.
If the lines go up, that means more babies got the name that year. If they go down, the name was used less. You can spot trends, like when the name became really popular or started to fade.