Ziva

Ziva brings together two distinct name traditions. In Hebrew, it is a feminine form of Ziv, associated with brightness or radiance. In Slavic usage, Živa comes from a word meaning “alive” or “living.” Removing the accent from the Slavic spelling can make the two names look identical in English, although their histories remain separate.

The Slavic form is also associated with a goddess recorded in medieval accounts, whereas the Hebrew name belongs to the Ziv family. Those are alternatives, not evidence that one name spread from the other. Zeeva can help English readers recognize the intended Hebrew sound; families using Živa may prefer to retain the original letter wherever their documents allow it.