boy's name
David
DAY-vid
- Origin Hebrew
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 5
- Popularity Top 100 (US)
- Births on record 4,179,504
the United States
#35
2025 births
David is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved," from Dawid. It belongs to the shepherd who kills Goliath and becomes the second king of Israel, a figure central to Jewish, Christian, and Islamic tradition alike.
- David is a name of Hebrew origin.
- Peaked in 1955, when 86,454 babies were given the name.
- It has been falling over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 487 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
David over time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 7,589 |
| 1890s | 7,361 |
| 1900s | 8,661 |
| 1910s | 44,080 |
| 1920s | 89,233 |
| 1930s | 165,376 |
| 1940s | 427,414 |
| 1950s | 771,543 |
| 1960s | 736,477 |
| 1970s | 448,198 |
| 1980s | 386,222 |
| 1990s | 254,460 |
| 2000s | 180,435 |
| 2010s | 116,900 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 45,664 |
What David means
David means beloved or dearly loved, from a Hebrew root connected with love. It is one of the more straightforward Hebrew name meanings, expressing affection directly rather than making a statement about God.
Where David comes from
David comes from the Hebrew Dawid, from a root meaning beloved. The biblical David dominates the books of Samuel and Kings: a shepherd boy who defeats the Philistine champion Goliath, becomes king, unites the tribes, and establishes Jerusalem as his capital. Tradition credits him with composing many of the Psalms, and both Jewish messianic expectation and the Christian gospels trace descent from his line. The name is equally significant in Wales, where Saint David — Dewi Sant — is the patron saint, celebrated on 1 March. It has been in continuous use across Europe and the Middle East for well over two thousand years.
How popular is David?
In 2025, David was given to 6,801 babies in the United States, ranking #35 that year. It is one of the most popular names in the United States.
Where David is used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside David
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like David also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with David over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
3 nicknames for David
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
David in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for David
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with David — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about David
What does the name David mean?
David means "beloved," from the Hebrew Dawid.
Who was David in the Bible?
A shepherd who killed Goliath and became the second king of Israel, traditionally credited with writing many Psalms.
Is David a Welsh name too?
Saint David, or Dewi Sant, is the patron saint of Wales, celebrated on 1 March.
How popular is the name David?
In 2025, David was given to 6,801 babies in the United States, ranking #35 that year. It is one of the most popular names in the United States.
Is David a girl's or a boy's name?
David is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in David?
David has 2 syllables.
When was David most popular?
David peaked in 1955, when 86,454 babies were given the name. It has been falling over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for David?
David is usually shortened to Dave, Davey and Davy.
Is David a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. David currently ranks #35 in the United States. It has been falling over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.