Find out how popular the first name Dave has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Dave by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Dave is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 65 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Dave.

The history of the first name Dave

The name Dave is a diminutive form of the given name David, which has its roots in the ancient Hebrew name דָּוִד (Dawid). The name David is derived from the Hebrew word דּוֹד (dod), meaning "beloved" or "uncle". It is speculated that the name David may have originated as an affectionate nickname, akin to "beloved one".

The name David has a rich historical significance, particularly in the Abrahamic religions. In the Hebrew Bible, David was a prominent figure, renowned for slaying the giant Goliath and later becoming the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel and Judah. His life and reign are extensively documented in the Books of Samuel and Chronicles.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name David can be found in the Book of Ruth, where it appears as the name of one of Ruth's sons. The name gained widespread popularity among Jewish communities, and its use later spread to Christian and Islamic cultures.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Dave or its variants. One of the earliest recorded individuals was Dave the Armenian, a 6th-century Byzantine historian and author of the "History of the Armenian War" which documented the Byzantine-Sassanid War.

In the 12th century, Dave de Haia was a prominent Norman knight who participated in the Norman conquest of Ireland and was granted lands in County Limerick. Another notable figure was Dave Stephenson, a 14th-century English philosopher and logician who made significant contributions to the field of logic.

During the Renaissance period, Dave Brubeck, an American jazz pianist and composer (1920-2012), gained international acclaim for his innovative approaches to jazz and his iconic album "Time Out".

In the realm of literature, Dave Eggers, an American author and publisher (born in 1970), is renowned for his memoir "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" and his contributions to the literary world through his publishing house, McSweeney's.

These are just a few examples of the diverse individuals who have borne the name Dave throughout history, each leaving an indelible mark in their respective fields.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Dave was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Dave, please contact us.

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