In English, name Alva means – Feminine form of Alvin: Wise friend. From the Old English Aetheiwine, and also Aefwine, both meaning noble friend. Various forms of Alvin in use after the Norman Conquest became surnames, and also first names.. Other origins for name Alva include – English, Latin-American, Hebrew, German, German, Hebrew. Name Alva is most often used as a girl name or female name.