David
How to say it: DAY-vid · /ˈdeɪvɪd/
Beloved — from the Hebrew Dawid, borne by the biblical king David, second king of Israel.
David was the 39th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 6,794 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1960s, its births are down about 42% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #67 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 | #39 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 6,794 |
| Share of births | 1 in 476 |
| Peak decade | 1960s |
| Change over 10 years | −42% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #67 |
| In France, 2025 | #167 among boys’ names, 375 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
David rose highest in the 1960s and has thinned since. Far below that high, further softening seems likely.
What goes with it
Bright and breathy with a crisp close, David feels sturdy and familiar across cultures. Dave offers a short form and Jonathan shares its steady style.
Middle names that flow with David →
Nicknames
- Dave
- Davey
Honouring a David in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called David is about 1 in 20.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Welsh.
In France: #167 for boys in 2025.
England and Wales: #73. Ireland: #45.
Famous people named David
- David Beckham (born 1975)English footballer
- David Hilbert (1862–1943)German mathematician
- David Hume (1711–1776)Scottish philosopher, economist, and historian
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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