David
David Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
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Meaning of David: David descends from the Hebrew Dawidh, built on the root d-w-d meaning beloved. Semitic scholars link the form to an older Akkadian kinship term for uncle or darling, as noted on etymology records. The name entered Greek as Dauid and Latin as David.
The Hebrew Bible records David as the second king of Israel, ruling from around 1010 to 970 BCE. Scripture credits him with slaying the Philistine giant Goliath, uniting the twelve tribes, capturing Jerusalem, and composing many of the Psalms preserved in the Tanakh and Christian Old Testament.
Welsh tradition venerates Saint David as patron saint of Wales, with his feast celebrated on March first. Medieval Scotland produced King David I in the 12th century, and Byzantine emperors, Ethiopian negus rulers, and Russian princes also adopted the name across Orthodox Christian lands.
What Does David Mean? Origin & Etymology
According to US Social Security Administration records, David ranked among the top five US boys' names every year from 1936 through 1992, an unbroken run of 57 years. The name peaked at rank one briefly in the mid-1960s during the baby boom.
As of 2024, David holds rank 31 with 7,317 US births, having descended from its mid-century apex. The name remains a top 50 choice across Spain, Portugal, Germany, and Israel, giving it one of the broadest cross-cultural footprints of any classical biblical option.
Variants across languages include Spanish David with accented second syllable, French David, Italian Davide, Russian David, Arabic Dawud, and Welsh Dewi. Notably, David carries Renaissance artistic weight through Michelangelo's marble statue in Florence, reinforcing its association with courage, youth, and moral resolve.
How Popular Is David?
Numerology & Symbolism of David
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
David – Similar Names & Alternatives
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Frequently Asked Questions about David
What does David mean?
What is the origin of David?
David originates from biblical Hebrew. King David slew Goliath and composed the Psalms. In the US, David ranked in the top 10 every year from 1937 to 1998 and held rank 1 from 1960 to 1968.
How popular is David in the US?
David ranks 31 for boys in the US as of 2024, per SSA data. It ranked in the top 10 from 1937 to 1998. David has never fallen below rank 20 in US SSA records since 1880.
What are variants of David?
Variants include Dave, Davey (English nicknames), Davide (Italian), Davi (Portuguese), Dawid (Polish/Hebrew), and Dafydd (Welsh). Taavid (Finnish) and Tevita (Tongan) are Pacific variants.
Is David more popular for girls or boys?
David is given predominantly to boys. It ranks 31 for boys in the US in 2024. David occasionally appears as a girls’ name but does not rank in the girls’ top 1000.
David – Name Variants & Spellings
| Variant | Language |
|---|---|
| Daud | Arabic |
| Davy | English diminutive |
| Dave | English short form |
| Davit | Georgian/Armenian |
| Davide | Italian |
| Dawid | Polish/South African |
| Dewi | Welsh |
| Dovid | Yiddish |