Iva

Iva is a Slavic feminine name functioning as a short form of names beginning with the element iv, derived from the word for the yew tree, a plant associated in many European traditions with endurance and longevity. It is widely used across South Slavic languages, particularly in Bulgarian, Serbian, and Croatian, where it also serves as the feminine equivalent of Ivan, itself the Slavic form of the Hebrew Yohanan, meaning God is gracious. The name gained broad popularity throughout the twentieth century in Central and Eastern Europe. Related forms include Ivana, Ivanka, and Iva's masculine counterpart Ivan.