Dave

Q: What is the origin of Dave?

Dave is of Hebrew origin. The name carries significant cultural meaning and has been used across generations within its origin tradition.

Q: How popular is the name Dave?

According to the latest SSA data, Dave is currently ranked #999999 in the United States. The popularity of this name has evolved over the past century based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Q: Is Dave a girl name?

Dave is traditionally a girl name. Modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal choice and cultural context.

female

Updated 6 months ago

Meaning

"Beloved"

Short form of David, a biblical name widely used in English-speaking contexts and associated with royal and religious narratives.

Themes:belovednicknamebiblicalenglish

Biblical Unique Rare

Fact-checked by Lily Anderson

M.F.A. Creative Writing, Sarah LawrencePublished NovelistName Collection Curator • Creative Names Editor

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Dave

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

UnrankedNot ranked in 2024

Loading chart...

Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Year

Selected Year Rank

Unranked

Dave did not appear in the national SSA rankings for 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

no national rank in 2024

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Dave Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Dave.

8 ideas

dave

Nickname

davy

Nickname

davey

Nickname

daveie

Nickname

daveo

Nickname

Similar Names to Dave

female

Anna

AN-uh

“Grace; Favor”

#94

|Hebrew

female

Ashley

“Ash Tree Clearing”

#124

|English

female

Amanda

uh-MAN-duh

“Worthy of Love”

#496

|Latin

female

Amy

AY-mee

“Beloved”

#228

|French

female

Angela

AN-juh-luh

“Messenger; Angel”

#282

|Greek

female

Ann

“Grace, Favor”

#1141

|Hebrew

female

Abigail

AB-ih-gayl

“My Father Is Joy”

#32

|Hebrew

female

Amber

“Amber Resin”

#541

|Arabic

female

Annie

“Grace, Favor”

#191

|Hebrew

female

Anne

“Grace; Favor”

#649

|Hebrew

Baby Name Lists That Include Dave

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Dave, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

24 linked lists

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Dave mean?

Dave means "Beloved". Short form of David, a biblical name widely used in English-speaking contexts and associated with royal and religious na

What is the origin of Dave?

Dave is of Hebrew origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.

How popular is the name Dave?

According to the latest SSA data, Dave is currently not ranked in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Is Dave a girl name?

Dave is traditionally a girl name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.

What are good nicknames for Dave?

Popular nicknames for Dave include dave, davy, davey, daveie, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Dave?

There are many names similar to Dave in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginHebrew, English

Syllables1

Length4 letters

Trend→ Stable

Starts withD

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Abe Arron Aaden Avraham Ammon

Sisters

Ann Anita Alisha Abbie Annmarie

Explore More Girl Names Like Dave

Dave has Hebrew roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Hebrew baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Dave appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Names That Mean Love and Unique Baby Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Biblical Baby Names and Hebrew Baby Names.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Dave pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Dave beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.