The Finno-Ugric names {{Lang|liv|Vēna}} ([[Livonian language|Livonian]]), {{Lang|et|Väinajogi}} ([[Estonian language|Estonian]]), and {{Lang|fi|Väinäjoki}} ([[Finnish language|Finnish]]) all stem from Proto-Finnic ''*väin'', meaning "a large, peacefully rolling river".
A different theory can be presented by considering evidence from medieval texts (specifically Ibn Fadlan's travelogue to the land of the Slavs, Russians and Saqaliba). Ibn Fadlan's travelogue mentions that he crossed the Sukh River (probably the current Sukhona River in Russia): this and other evidence suggest that he reached the western parts of Russia (adjacent to Eastern and Northern Europe) on his journey. Then he states he has reached the Jaushir River (Jawshir River)<ref>Fadlan, Ibn. "Ibn Fadlan’s journey to Russia." Trans. Richard N. Frye. Princeton: Markus Wiener Publishers (2005).</ref>.
Jawshir is the Arabicized equivalent of the Indo-European word Gawshir (Gavshir) <ref>https://www.cgie.org.ir/fa/article/224745/%DA%86%D9%88%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B4</ref>.
The Gaw (Gav) section in Gawshir (Gavshir) is clearly related to the Gava section in the Daugava. Therefore, Dau can be related to the river and Gava can be related to the Indo-European roots of Gau, Gawa and Gava<ref>https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%88</ref>.
This was a different theory regarding the etymology of the name of this river with addressing some historical recorded evidence.
