Tova Explained

Tova is a given name, nickname and a surname. The name Tova has multiple origins. Deriving from Old Norse, it is thought to be a hypocoristic form of the name Þórfríðr.^[1] Deriving from Hebrew, it is an adjective meaning "good".

Notable people with this name are listed below.

Given name

• Saint Tova of Thorney (died), Anglo-Saxon martyr
• Tova of the Obotrites (Slavic princess and queen consort of Denmark
• Tova Beck-Friedman (born 1938), American artist, sculptor, writer, filmmaker, and child survivor of the Holocaust
• Tova Ben-Dov, Israeli Zionist
• Tova Ben Zvi (born 1928), Israeli singer
• Tova Borgnine (1941-2022), Norwegian-born American businesswoman
• Tova Hamilton, Jamaican politician
• Tova Hartman (born 1957), Israeli scholar and social entrepreneur
• Tova Ilan (1929–2019), Israeli educator and politician
• Tova Magnusson (born 1968), Swedish actress and filmmaker
• Tova Milo, Israeli computer scientist
• Tova Mirvis (born 1972), American novelist
• Tova O'Brien (born 1982/1983), New Zealand journalist, host of radio show Tova
• Tova Sanhadray (1906–1993), Israeli politician
• Tova Traesnaes (1941–2022), Norwegian-American businesswoman

Surname

• Theresa Tova (born 1955), Canadian actress, singer and playwright

Nickname

• Tosia Altman (1919–1943), Polish courier and smuggler, known as Tova
• Antun Stipančić (1949–1991), Croatian table tennis player

Fictional characters

• Tiny Tova, character in The Magic Door
• Tova Arrocas, character in Internal Affairs (film)
• Tova, character in Critical Role

See also

• Toda (surname)
• Tola (name)
• Toma (name)
• Tona (name)
• Tora (given name)
• Tora (surname)
• Tovar (surname)

Notes and References

1. Teresa Norman, "Tova." A World of Baby Names. New York: Penguin, 2003. 504.