Avi is a given name, usually masculine, often a diminutive of Avram, Avraham, etc. It is sometimes feminine and a diminutive of the Hebrew spelling of Abigail. People with the given name include: Avi (born 1937), Newbery award-winning American author Avi Arad (born 1948), Israeli-American businessman, founder, chairman and CEO of Marvel Studios Avi Avital (born 1978), Israeli mandolin player and composer Avi Beker (1952–2015), Israel-American political scientist Avi Bell, professor of law at the University of San Diego School of Law and Bar-Ilan University Faculty of Law Avi Ben-Chimol (born 1985), Israeli basketball player Avi Cohen (1956–2010), Israeli footballer Avi Cohen (footballer, born 1962) (born 1962), Israeli former footballer Avi Dichter (born 1952), Israeli politician, former Minister of Internal Security, Minister of Home Front Defense and Shin Bet director Avi Gabai (born 1967), Israeli politician, former Minister of Environmental Protection (2015–2016) Avi Ivgi (born 1978), Israeli football goalkeeper Avi Kornick (born 1983), Israeli actor Avi Kaplan (born 1989), American-Jewish a capella singer and songwriter Avi Lerner (born 1947), American-Israeli film producer Avi Lewis (born 1968), Canadian documentary filmmaker and former TV host Avi Loeb (born 1962), Israeli-American theoretical physicist Avi Nesher (born 1953), Israeli film producer, director, screenwriter and actor Avi Nimni (born 1972), Israeli former footballer Avi Pazner (born 1937), Israeli retired diplomat Avi Peretz (footballer) (born 1971), Israeli former footballer Avi Peretz (singer) (born 1966), Israeli singer in Mizrahi music tradition Avi Ran (1963–1987), Israeli footballer Avi Rikan (born 1988), Israeli footballer Avi Rubin (born 1967), American computer scientist and expert in systems and networking security Avi Sagild (1933–1995), Danish film actress Avi Schafer (born 1998), Japanese professional basketball player Avi Shlaim (born 1945), Israeli-British professor and historian Avi Soffer (born 1986), Israeli footballer Avi Strool (born 1980), Israeli retired footballer Avi Tikva (born 1976), Israeli former footballer Avi Toledano (born 1948), Israeli singer and songwriter, runner-up in the 1982 Eurovision Song Contest Avi Wallerstein, Canadian ophthalmologist and laser eye surgeon, co-founder of LASIK MD Avi Weiss (born 1944), American rabbi, author, teacher, lecturer and activist Avi Wigderson (born 1956), Israeli mathematician and computer scientist Avi Wortzman (born 1970), Israeli politician, former Deputy Minister of Education (2013–2014) Avi Yehezkel (born 1958), Israeli former politician Avi Yehiel (born 1979), Israeli footballer