Chavah

Chavah is the Hebrew name for the biblical figure known in English as Eve. It is commonly transliterated as Chava, Havah, or Hava and stems from the Hebrew root for life, often linked to the word chayah meaning “to live.” In Hebrew, the name is associated with life and vitality and is written חַוָּה.

In the biblical narrative, Chavah is the first woman, created to be a companion to Adam. According to Genesis, God forms the woman from the man’s rib and presents her to him. She is later named Eve (Havah) by Adam, a designation that in Genesis 3:20 is connected to her being “the mother of all living.” The story continues with the command regarding the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, the serpent’s temptation, and the subsequent awareness of nakedness.

Chavah/Eve occupies a central role in Jewish and Christian traditions as the first woman and the mother of humankind, and her story is a key element of the fall narrative. In Islamic tradition, a similar figure named Hawwa (Hawa) appears as the wife of Adam, with a related account of creation and temptation, though details differ across sources.

Variants and modern usage: The name appears in multiple transliterations, including Chava, Havah, Hava, and Eve in English. In modern Hebrew, Chava is a common given name. The name is also cognate with Eva in some languages.