The earliest form of this female given name was the Old German Haduwig comprising the elements hadu "battle" and wig "fight": the original form of the modern German female name Hedwig, Haduwig was modified to Havoise by the Normans and subsequent to the Norman Invasion the name occurred frequently in England throughout the Middle Ages, the standard Middle English form of the name being Hawise. As a female given name in modern times Avis is associated with the Latin avis "bird" although the spelling Avice is sometimes found.
Avis Bohlen (born 1940), American diplomat, former Ambassador to BulgariaAvice Maud Bowbyes (1901–1992), New Zealand writerAvis Bunnage (1923-1990), British actressAvis M. Dry (1922–2007), clinical psychologist and author on the psychology of Carl JungAvis Favaro (born 1958), Canadian medical correspondent for CTV News since 1992Avis Gray (born 1954), politician in Manitoba, CanadaAvis Kimble (born 1944), American modelAvice Landone (1910-1976), British actressAvis McIntosh (born 1938), New Zealand former sprinterAvis Miller (born 1945), American modelAvis Tucker (1915-2010), American owner and publisher of The Daily Star-Journal newspaperAvis Stearns Van Wagenen (1841-1907), a partner in E. C. Stearns & CompanyAvis Van Zomeren Successful shower of American Saddlebred horses and Hackney ponies from Timber Hills Farm.The 1897 novel The Well-Beloved by Thomas Hardy features three characters named Avice.
A character named Avice is the protagonist of the critically acclaimed 2011 novel "Embassytown" by China Miéville.
Apparently engendered by the female given name: notable namesakes include:
David Avis (born 1951), Canadian and British computer scientistGary Avis, dancer with The Royal BalletPaul Avis, Anglican priest, theologian and ecumenistSamuel B. Avis (1872-1924), American politicianWarren Avis (1915-2007), the founder of Avis Rent A Car