Dave
How to say it: DAYV · /ˈdeɪv/
Short form of David, from Hebrew meaning 'beloved'; used independently as a given name in English-speaking countries.
Dave was the 1,933rd most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 55 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1880s, its births are down about 13% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #2,093 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #1,933 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 55 |
| Share of births | 1 in 60,278 |
| Peak decade | 1880s |
| Change over 10 years | −13% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #2,093 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,436 among boys’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Dave peaked in the 1880s and is less common today.
What goes with it
Nicknames
- Davey
- Davy
Honouring a Dave in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Dave is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Dutch, English, French, German, Hebrew.
In France: #2,436 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Dave
- Dave Grohl (born 1969)American rock musician
- Dave Farrell (born 1977)American bassist
- Dave Benton (born 1951)Aruban-Estonian musician
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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