Daeva as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Daeva

What is the meaning of the name Daeva ?

The baby name Daeva is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced DAY-vuh (/ˈdeɪvə/) — alt: DAH-eh-vah.

Daeva is Iranian in Origin.

Daeva derives from Avestan daeva, ultimately from Proto-Indo-Iranian *daivá- and Proto-Indo-European *deiwos, “shining, divine being.” In Zoroastrian scripture (the Avesta) and later Persian lore, however, daeva names a hostile spirit or “false god,” a meaning that emerged with Zarathustra’s religious reforms; by contrast, Vedic Sanskrit deva remained a positive “god.” The spelling with ae mirrors scholarly transliteration of the Avestan term, and the Iranian reflex appears in Persian dīv/“demon,” familiar from the Shahnameh.

As a given name, Daeva is very modern and rare, chosen for its mythic edge and cross-cultural resonance. Depending on the tradition you prefer, its sense ranges from “divine, celestial” to “spirit, adversary.” Related forms include Deva (India, unisex), Devi (feminine), Daiva (Lithuanian feminine, “fate”), and Deivė/Deivas in Baltic usage; creative spellings like Deeva also occur. Parents with Iranian heritage may note the negative religious connotation.

⚙ Daeva is exceptionally rare. There are only 7 recorded uses on record, spread over 6 countries.