David

Updated: October 24, 2023 by Stephanie Graham

David is a baby name that has never gone out of style. With namesakes like David (of Goliath fame), David Bowie, David Attenborough, and David Copperfield, it’s clear that Davids can do anything.

Meaning and Origin of the name David:

David is a darling name for boys that is of Hebrew origin meaning “beloved” or “to love.”

David is derived from the Hebrew name Dawid, which came from the Hebrew term dôwd (meaning “to love”). David has been adopted as a Christian name because of the importance of King David in the Bible. The most famous person bearing the name David is King David, who defeated the giant Goliath in his youth.

Symbolism of the name David:

It is difficult to separate the name David from the story of David and Goliath. The story teaches that any obstacle can be overcome no matter the odds.

Nicknames for the name David:

The two most common nicknames for David are Dave and Davy. There are only a few options for nicknames, but you do have a couple more options than the two most common. Below is a list of nicknames for David to aid you in your search for the perfect nickname for your baby boy.

Dave
Davy
Davi
Dav
Davie
Dai
Dee

Style of the name David:

Traditional

Gender of the name David:

David is a boy's name.

Pronunciation of the name David:

DAY-vid

Number of syllables in the name David:

Two

Emotion evoked from the name David:

The name David evokes feelings of strength and determination.

Alternative spellings for the name David:

Davyd
Davide
Daved
Dayvid

Popularity of the name David:

According to the Social Security Administration, the baby name David has been extremely popular since before 1900. The lowest rank ever recorded was in 1900 at #32. David was within the top ten for boy’s names from 1937 to 1991.