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Home › Baby Names Directory › Dave

Dave

♂ Boy

Pronounced DEHIHV /ˈdɛɪv/Medium

Meaning: BelovedMedium

In 30 seconds: Dave is an English name meaning 'beloved', long used as the everyday short form of David. Plain, friendly, and instantly familiar, it stands on its own as much as it leans on its fuller form.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningBeloved
U.S. rank (2025)#2456 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births55 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1959
Total births (all-time)≈ 64,383

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195918802025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Dave carries the meaning 'beloved' that it inherits from David, the name it shortens. In English it has become a name in its own right, comfortable and unpretentious. Across languages the same root surfaces in forms like the Ethiopian Dawit and the Arabic Daoud.

Affectionate spellings such as Davey, Davie, and Davy show how easily the name bends toward warmth. Bearers range from Hall of Fame baseball shortstop Dave Bancroft to Foo Fighters founder Dave Grohl, a spread that captures how down-to-earth the name feels.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Dave is 'beloved', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Dave — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

DaveyDavieDavyDawitDaoud

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Dave Bancroft (1891–1972)
    American Hall of Fame baseball shortstop for the Phillies, Giants, Braves, and Robins.
  • ★Dave Grohl (1969–present)
    American musician, founder of the Foo Fighters and former drummer of Nirvana.

If you like Dave…

Davy— A short, casual variation of Dave used as a first name and nickname alike.
Cove— another English name
Steve— shares Dave's English roots
Clive— shares Dave's English roots
Reeve— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Dave

By themeenglish
By meaningLove

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Dave mean?

Dave is usually explained as meaning 'beloved' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Dave?

It's commonly said DEHIHV /ˈdɛɪv/.

Is Dave a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Dave is used as a boy name.

How popular is Dave?

In 2024, Dave ranked #2012 in the U.S. for boys, with 76 births recorded.

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