Ivah

Ivah is a feminine given name of English usage, derived from the Old Testament city of Ibah (also called Ava) mentioned in the Hebrew Bible.

Etymology and Biblical Context

The name Ibah appears in 2 Kings 17:24, 18:34, and 19:13 as a city in Assyria, located on the Euphrates River between Sepharvaim and Henah. Its meaning is recorded as “overturning.” In the biblical narrative, the Assyrian king brought people from Ibah to settle in Samaria after the deportation of the Israelites. The city is also noted for its local deities; the Assyrians worshiped gods such as Nibhaz and Tartak, whom the biblical author cites to illustrate the incomparable power of Yahweh. Some scholars have proposed that Ibah may be identical with the Ahava mentioned in Ezra 8:15. Outside the Bible, Ibah is also attested as a district in Babylon.

Usage and Variants

As a given name, Ivah is rare and likely influenced by the King James Version’s rendering “Ivah.” It also functions as a variant of the parallel form Ava, though its biblical origin sets it apart. The name is sometimes associated with the Akkadian word abu (“father”) or with the Arabic avva, but these connections remain speculative.

• Meaning: Overturning
• Origin: Old Testament place name
• Type: First name
• Usage Regions: English-speaking world
• Related Names: See Biblical names such as Sepharvaim, Henah, Ahava