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Davis

♂ Boy

Pronounced DAY-vis /ˈdeɪ.vɪs/High

Meaning: Welsh and English patronymic surname meaning son of David, from the Hebrew name David meaning beloved; used as a given name in America, particularly as an honor nameHigh

In 30 seconds: A clean Welsh-rooted patronymic surname meaning son of David, Davis has a preppy, Southern American elegance and has been rising as a given name with the same cool surname-name trend.
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Origin HighWelsh, Hebrew, English
MeaningWelsh and English patronymic surname meaning son of David, from the Hebrew name David meaning beloved; used as a given name in America, particularly as an honor name
U.S. rank (2025)#668 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births409 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2007
Total births (all-time)≈ 32,072

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200718802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Davis is a patronymic surname of Welsh origin, formed from the Hebrew name David (meaning beloved) with the Welsh patronymic suffix equivalent to son of. David was the great biblical king of Israel and a figure of enormous importance in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. The surname Davis was common in Wales and spread to England, Ireland, and America.

As a given name, Davis has been used in America since the 19th century, often as an honor surname-name. In the 21st century it has been rising as part of the broader trend toward surname-names for boys, appealing to parents who want a name that sounds distinguished and slightly preppy. Today Davis charts steadily in the U.S. top 200.

Did you know? Jefferson Davis (1808–1889) served as the President of the Confederate States of America, giving Davis a complex place in American history — simultaneously a presidential name and one deeply entangled with the Civil War era.
Overall data confidence 92%
Behind the Name — Davis — etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

DaveDavid

Nicknames

Dave

Famous Bearers

  • ★Jefferson Davis (1808–1889)
    President of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.
  • ★Miles Davis (1926–1991)
    American jazz musician and trumpeter, one of the most influential in music history.

If you like Davis…

Hayes— shares the same preppy American surname-name energy and the same two-syllable cadence
Brooks— fellow distinguished-sounding surname-name with the same clean American pedigree
Grant— another strong, single-syllable presidential surname name with the same elegance
Wells— shares the same quiet preppy distinction and the same surname-as-given-name tradition

Frequently Asked

What does the name Davis mean?

Davis means son of David, from the Welsh patronymic surname. David itself means beloved in Hebrew.

How do you pronounce Davis?

It is said DAY-vis /ˈdeɪ.vɪs/ — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Davis a popular given name?

Yes — Davis has been rising in the U.S. top 200 boys' names in the 21st century as a distinguished, preppy surname-name.

Is Davis related to David?

Yes — Davis is a patronymic form of David, meaning son of David.