Avesta (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈɑ̂ːvɛsta]) is a locality and the seat of Avesta Municipality in Dalarna County, Sweden, with 11,949 inhabitants in 2015.
The name is first found in 1303 as "Aghastadhum". Aghe is of similar origin as the word å, meaning stream, in this case the Avestafors, a tributary of the river Dalälven. Stadhum was dative plural of a word of similar origin as stead, or farm.