Dover

Q: What is the origin of Dover?

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

Q: How popular is the name Dover?

According to the latest SSA data, Dover 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 Dover a boy name?

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

male

Updated 6 months ago

Meaning

"Water"

Dover is an English place-name used as a given name, likely derived from a Brittonic root associated with water.

Themes:placenametoponymicmodernenglish

Nature Natural Unique Rare

Fact-checked by Sarah Mitchell

B.A. Journalism, Northwestern University10+ Years Parenting WritingMom of Three • Parenting Editor

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

Popularity History of Dover

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

UnrankedNot ranked

SSA did not record this spelling in the national rankings for the available chart years. Names used fewer than 5 times in a year are omitted from the dataset.

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

Dover 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

Dover Nicknames

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

8 ideas

dovy

Nickname

dove

Nickname

over

Nickname

very

Nickname

doverie

Nickname

dovery

Nickname

dovero

Nickname

Similar Names to Dover

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Anthony

AN-thuh-nee

“Priceless; Invaluable”

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Andrew

AN-droo

“Manly; Strong”

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Alexander

al-ig-ZAN-der

“Defender of Men”

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Aaron

AIR-un

“Exalted; Mountain of Strength”

#79

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Adam

AD-um

“Human, Earth”

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Austin

AW-stun

“Great, Venerable”

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Allen

“Handsome; Harmonious”

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Alvin

“Noble Friend”

#791

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Arnold

“Eagle Power”

#1681

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Andy

“Manly; Brave”

#488

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Baby Name Lists That Include Dover

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

13 linked lists

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Dover mean?

Dover means "Water". Dover is an English place-name used as a given name, likely derived from a Brittonic root associated with water.

What is the origin of Dover?

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

How popular is the name Dover?

According to the latest SSA data, Dover 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 Dover a boy name?

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

What are good nicknames for Dover?

Popular nicknames for Dover include dovy, dove, over, very, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Dover?

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

Quick Facts

OriginEnglish

Syllables2

Length5 letters

Trend→ Stable

Starts withD

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Alton Al Ashley Addison Anson

Sisters

Arlene Addie Ashlee Ashleigh Audra

Explore More Boy Names Like Dover

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

Dover appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Names That Mean Ocean and Names That Mean Water for Boys and Girls for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Earth-Inspired Nature Names and Unique Baby Names.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Dover pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Dover 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.