Avital – Name Meaning
Avital is a Hebrew name meaning “father of dew” or “dew of God.” It is derived from the Hebrew word av, which means “father,” and tal, which means “dew.” The name Avital is often used as a female given name in Israel and other Jewish communities around the world.
Origin and History
The origin of the name Avital can be traced back to the Bible. In the Book of Genesis, it is mentioned that Abraham’s wife Sarah gave birth to a son named Isaac. After Isaac was born, Sarah said: “God has brought me laughter; everyone who hears will laugh with me.” She then named her son Isaac, which means “laughter,” and his father Abraham called him Yitzchak Avinu, which translates to “Isaac our Father.” This phrase eventually became shortened to Avi, which is the root of the name Avital.
Avital has been used as a given name since at least the 16th century. It was popularized in modern times by Israeli author Amos Oz, who wrote a novel titled “Avital” in 1975. Since then, it has become increasingly popular among Jewish families in Israel and elsewhere.
Popularity
Avital is not a particularly common name in the United States. According to Social Security Administration data from 2019, it ranked #7,945 out of all baby girl names registered that year. However, it is much more popular in Israel where it ranks #51 out of all baby girl names registered in 2019.
Famous People Named Avital
There are several famous people who have been given the name Avital:
- Avital Ronell – an American philosopher and literary theorist.
- Avital Sharansky – an Israeli politician and former prisoner of conscience.
- Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt – an American journalist and editor.
- Avital Cohen – an Israeli model and beauty pageant titleholder.
Variations of the Name
The name Avital can also be spelled as Avitel or Avivtal. There are also several variations of the name that have different meanings:
- Avigail: “Father’s joy” or “my father’s joy”
- Aviva: “Springtime” or “freshness”
- Aviyam: “My father’s people”
