Declining since 1985, #35 for boys today.
Popularity of David since 1880
Babies named David per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 7,569 |
| 1890s | 7,333 |
| 1900s | 8,619 |
| 1910s | 43,853 |
| 1920s | 88,736 |
| 1930s | 164,701 |
| 1940s | 426,372 |
| 1950s | 769,963 |
| 1960s | 733,953 |
| 1970s | 445,704 |
| 1980s | 383,687 |
| 1990s | 253,711 |
| 2000s | 180,098 |
| 2010s | 116,740 |
| 2020s | 45,615 |
Meaning & origin
David has a statistical résumé almost no other name can match: present at the top of American charts in every single year since records began in 1880, a midcentury peak in 1955 during a decades-long stay in the national top 10, and a decline since 1985 so gradual that it still ranked 35th in 2025, given to about 1 in every 251 newborn boys. Fashion simply does not seem to apply to it.
The reason is breadth. King David anchors it in Jewish tradition; Saint David gives it Welsh nationhood; Michelangelo gave it marble form; and the modern roster, Bowie, Attenborough, Beckham, spans art, science, and sport. It is equally at home in English, Spanish, Hebrew, and a dozen other languages, which is why its strongest American states today are the District of Columbia, New York, and Delaware, a distinctly East Coast, urban footprint shaped by the immigrant and religious communities that keep the name perennial.
For parents, David is the definition of a low-risk choice with real substance underneath: "beloved" as a meaning, three thousand years of continuous use, and a sound so settled that it has outlasted every naming trend of the last century.
David is the English form of Hebrew Dawid, generally connected to the root dwd and understood as "beloved" or "darling." The biblical David, shepherd, giant-slayer, psalmist, and Israel's greatest king, made it one of the most consequential names in the Western tradition, borne continuously by Jewish families for some three thousand years. It has separate deep roots in the Celtic world: the sixth-century Saint David is the patron saint of Wales (Dafydd and Dewi are the Welsh forms), and two medieval Scottish kings carried the name. In American records David has never been out of the upper ranks since data began in 1880; it was a midcentury titan, peaking in 1955 during a long run in the national top 10, and has declined only slowly since 1985.
Read more: David on Wikipedia
Where David is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“David” around the world
Where David lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
445
babies in 2024
Ireland
#45
in 2025
New Zealand
#93
in 2025
Quebec
#89
in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Dave, Davy
Famous people named David
- David · biblical king of Israel, slayer of Goliath and traditional author of the Psalms
- David Bowie · English rock innovator and cultural icon
- David Attenborough · British broadcaster and natural historian
- David Beckham · English soccer star and global celebrity
Sibling names for David
Names that share David's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Sarah, Anna, Rebecca, Laura, Ruth, Alison, Amy, Angelia, Anne, Barbara, Carrie, Christie, Christina, Christy, Cynthia, Danielle, Debbie, Debora, Deborah, Dianna, Dianne, Jacquelyn, Janelle, Jodi, Joni, Joy, Judy, Julie, Justine, Katrina, Kristi, Kristine, Laurie, Linda, Lisa, Lori, Lynda, Marcia, Maria, Marsha, Martha, Michele, Michelle, Nichole, Paula, Robin, Sara, Teresa, Tonya, Valerie, Barbra, Chava, Christa, Christin, Cindi, Cinthia, Danelle, Danette, Danita, Danyelle, Deana, Diann, Dina, Dinah, Golda, Janene, Jeanna, Jenni, Jennyfer, Jodie, Joellen, Karie, Kathi, Kathie, Kristie, Kristyn, Lauri, Leisa, Lesli, Lidia, Lisamarie, Lizabeth, Lora, Marjory, Marybeth, Maryellen, Melisa, Mellissa, Michal, Michell, Milissa, Pamala, Racheal, Rachelle, Rashell, Sheree, Sondra, Stefanie, Steffany, Stephani, Susanna, Suzan, Tamela, Tami, Terese, Tonia, Vannesa, Angella, Anglea, Bethann, Bethanne, Bracha, Carie, Cherilyn, Cristen, Cristine, Dawne, Debbra, Debera, Debrah, Debroah, Dedra, Deeanna, Devorah, Elene, Elizbeth, Gabriell, Jacalyn, Jackelyn, Jacquelynn, Janee, Janeth, Jeni, Jeniffer, Jenniffer, Johna, Julee, Karren, Kathey, Kimberlie, Krissy, Leesa, Leighann, Leslye, Loriann, Marti, Marya, Marygrace, Marylynn, Melynda, Nechama, Rebekkah, Rutha, Ruthanne, Ruthe, Sarrah, Steffanie, Stephaine, Stephannie, Stephine, Suanne, Sueann, Susann, Synthia, Tamarah, Abegail, Aleksa, Angila, Anjeanette, Anndrea, Betsabe, Carolanne, Cherylann, Christyna, Chrystina, Cyndie, Cynitha, Cythia, Daiana, Daneille, Danella, Daun, Davianna, Dawnelle, Debborah, Deberah, Deborha, Deborrah, Deeanne, Deniece, Dinorah, Donice, Donnia, Doree, Elizabethann, Gennifer, Ibeth, Irais, Janalee, Janielle, Janneth, Jannifer, Jenel, Jennafer, Jennett, Jennifier, Jennipher, Joani, Jobeth, Johnelle, Jolinda, Kathren, Khristine, Kimberle, Kimberlyann, Kristee, Kristene, Kristyne, Krystine, Lasha, Laurieann, Lindia, Lisaann, Machell, Marcee, Mariangel, Marlissa, Marybel, Marycruz, Mechell, Mirka, Mischelle, Mitchelle, Natia, Nichola, Patrisha, Penina, Raechelle, Rahel, Rashel, Rechelle, Ruchel, Sarahann, Sarha, Sharone, Sheba, Shoshanna, Stepanie, Stephaney, Stepheny, Stephnie, Stevee, Sueanne, Suzzanne, Terriann, Tresea, Tresia, Tzipporah, Yudith, Amanada, Amye, Angelmarie, Antonela, Barbar, Carrieanne, Catrena, Cherylynn, Chirstina, Chistina, Chrisanne, Christyne, Chrystie, Cynithia, Dangela, Danne, Dannelle, Danyele, Debanhi, Debara, Debarah, Debbora, Deboraha, Deborra, Debraann, Deeana, Dejuana, Denielle, Dodi, Faithann, Hannahmarie, Jacqualine, Janda, Janifer, Jannet, Jeaninne, Jenefer, Jenipher, Jenniefer, Jennier, Jennife, Jessicah, Jomarie, Karolynn, Kathye, Khrista, Khristy, Kimbely, Krisanne, Lauraann, Leslieann, Lilit, Lynann, Lynee, Lynnmarie, Margaretann, Marikay, Maryruth, Maryuri, Meganne, Melissaann, Michaelann, Michalle, Millisa, Mirriam, Nazaret, Robynne, Sherrilynn, Staphanie, Stefanee, Stehanie, Stephene, Stephenia, Sulamita, Susen, Terasa, Teresea, Tereza, Tonimarie, Deetra, Jeanee, Jenafer, Lucyann, Ninamarie, Stepfanie, Stephanye, Thresea, Annjanette, Caroly, Carriann, Cathyann, Charna, Chirstine, Christeena, Christiann, Christiona, Christyl, Cyntha, Cythnia, Danamarie, Danett, Daveah, Daveena, Davinity, Debar, Debbrah, Deborahann, Jacalynn, Jacqulynn, Jassica, Jeanifer, Jeffifer, Jennfer, Jenniferann, Jennifr, Jennylee, Jeriann, Jerianne, Jerusalen, Jillann, Jillisa, Josanna, Judeth, Judithe, Judye, Karenann, Kathee, Khristin, Kimmarie, Kinberly, Krystn, Laurajean, Laurali, Lizann, Lizmary, Loribeth, Mariamawit, Marigrace, Marisue, Maronda, Marsheila, Megean, Melisia, Michaelia, Mischele, Mischell, Noele, Particia, Pattiann, Sandar, Sarahbeth, Shaaron, Sharnee, Shelie, Sheritha, Sholanda, Solangel, Stephanine, Stepheni, Stephonie, Stpehanie, Tearsa, Terilynn, Therasa, Tonianne, Yehudit, Yessika, Yostina, Zoeann
Brothers: Michael, Daniel, Joseph, Jonathan, Paul, Abraham, Daryl, Doug, Issac, Johnathon, Jon, Kristopher, Manuel, Micheal, Mike, Noel, Rick, Ruben, Simon, Stephan, Stuart, Tony, Adan, Chistopher, Dian, Gean, Hyman, Isai, Jeffry, Joesph, Johnpaul, Jonatan, Moshe, Samual, Saul, Shimon, Shmuel, Solomon, Yaakov, Yehuda, Yosef, Abran, Aharon, Avraham, Benjiman, Christain, Christan, Christoper, Daneil, Danniel, Danyel, Efraim, Eliyahu, Esai, Isac, Jefferey, Jhon, Joeseph, Jonathen, Jonmichael, Jonpaul, Jospeh, Luisangel, Marcanthony, Meyer, Micahel, Michale, Mickel, Mikeal, Salomon, Shlomo, Sholom, Simcha, Tiago, Yakov, Yonathan, Abrahan, Abrahm, Arye, Avram, Benyamin, Betzalel, Chriss, Christapher, Christohper, Christophr, Danel, Donathan, Enmanuel, Gaberiel, Hershal, Ichael, Jeffory, Jeffrie, Jefrey, Jencarlos, Jhony, Johnanthony, Johncarlos, Johnluke, Johnmark, Johnn, Johnthan, Jonn, Jonnathan, Jonthan, Josafat, Kennieth, Mandel, Mathews, Micael, Michaell, Michial, Shaul, Shimshon, Shraga, Stefen, Stephone, Timonthy, Yehudah, Yeriel, Yoseph, Abenezer, Angelgabriel, Antion, Atthew, Avishai, Benjimen, Berman, Christerpher, Christoher, Christropher, Chritopher, Danile, Grabiel, Hershall, Hristopher, Isais, Jeffre, Jeris, Joangel, Joanthan, Joedy, Johanan, Johnel, Johnnathan, Josph, Matheu, Miachel, Mitcheal, Nathanuel, Netanel, Nicklos, Ricke, Robertson, Samuell, Timohty, Anthonyjames, Chrsitopher, Jonahtan, Abrham, Anthonny, Ashot, Baruc, Baruch, Bishoy, Chayim, Chrisotpher, Christopherjame, Christphor, Dannel, Danuel, Janmichael, Jefferie, Johnchristopher, Johndaniel, Jonh, Jonluke, Josedaniel, Joseff, Luiscarlos, Mattheu, Michaeal, Michall, Mikayel, Mikle, Naftula, Noach, Ondra, Paulanthony, Serapio, Shemuel, Solmon, Steaven, Timoth, Yaacov, Yitzhak, Yohanan, Yossef
Names like David
Names whose popularity has moved with David's over the last 50 years.
