Dova as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Dova

What is the meaning of the name Dova ?

The baby name Dova is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced DOH-vah (ˈdoʊvə).

Dova is Hebrew in Origin.

Dova derives most plausibly from Hebrew dova/duva (דובה), the feminine form of dov, “bear,” literally “she‑bear,” a word attested in Biblical Hebrew. As a given name it remains rare, but it fits the long-standing Jewish practice of animal names symbolizing strength and guardianship. In the Western Balkans, however, dova is a common lexical item (from Arabic du‘ā’) meaning “supplication” or “prayer,” giving the name an alternative, devotional interpretation. In English-speaking settings, Dova is also heard as a sleek variant of the nature-name Dove, emblem of peace.

Usage as Dova is modern and uncommon; Hebrew and diaspora records more often show the masculine Dov, while the feminine appears through transliteration variants. Forms and related names include Duva, Duba, Dovah (transliteration with -ah), Dove, and the masculine Dov. The name’s semantics therefore span “she‑bear” and “prayer,” balancing ideas of protective strength with serenity and faith.