Mavis

Updated: October 12, 2023 by Olivia Mittak

Mavis is a vintage classic baby girl’s name that comes from the Old French term “mauvis”. Mavis means “songbird” in French and “purple” in Greek. Mavis was a popular name in the first half of the 20th century and returned to the top 1,000 list in 2016 alongside other vintage classics.

Meaning and Origin of the Name Mavis:

Mavis is a French baby girl’s name that means “songbird”. Mavis comes from the Old French term “mauvis” and is the French term for a type of bird called the song thrush. Mavis also means “purple” in Greek.

Symbolism of the Name Mavis:

Mavis is the French term for the song thrush. The song thrush is around 8 or 9” in size and has a brown and buff speckled pattern. The song thrush is a symbol of hope in adversity.

Nicknames for the Name Mavis:

Mavis is a great choice! Check out this list of the best nicknames for Mavis, and pick your favorite:

May
Mav
Vee
Vis
Avis
Avvy
Mavi
Vi
Violet
Avs

Style of the Name Mavis:

Traditional

Gender of the Name Mavis:

Mavis is a girl's name.

Pronunciation of the Name Mavis:

MAY-vis (English), MO-VET (French)

Number of Syllables in the Name Mavis:

Two

Emotion Evoked From the Name Mavis:

Mavis evokes feelings of compassion and beauty.

Alternative Spellings for the Name Mavis:

Mauvis, Mayvis, Mavys, Maves

Popularity of the Name Mavis:

According to the Social Security Administration, Mavis is a popular baby girl’s name. Mavis was in the top 1,000 baby names from 1900 to 1963, and then returned in 2016. It peaked at #270 in 1927. It sits at #680 as of 2022.