David
David is a boys' name of Hebrew origin meaning “beloved.” It ranked #22 in the United States in 2025. From the Hebrew Dawid, meaning beloved.
how do you pronounce David?
DAY-vid
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does David mean?
The name David means “beloved.” It comes from the Hebrew language tradition.
From the Hebrew Dawid, meaning beloved. King David of Israel is one of the Bible's central figures, celebrated as warrior, poet, and monarch. The name has been continuously popular across millennia.
where does the name David come from?
From the Hebrew דָּוִד, meaning beloved. The word appears in the Song of Songs as an ordinary term of affection, and the name may originally have been a title or throne name rather than a birth name — no earlier Israelite bearer is recorded.
the history of David
David killed Goliath, united the Israelite tribes, took Jerusalem as his capital and is credited with the Psalms, making him the most fully drawn character in the Hebrew Bible. He is a prophet in Islam and an ancestor of Jesus in the gospels. St David is patron of Wales, and Michelangelo's David has stood in Florence since 1504.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2024 | #22 |
| 2023 | #23 |
| 2022 | #24 |
| 2021 | #25 |
| 2020 | #25 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
what are the nicknames and variants of David?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named David?
- David Bowie
- David Beckham
- David Attenborough
what names are similar to David?
what names go well with David?
Sibling names that share David's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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