NameCensus.
Very Rare

Davens

A diminutive form of the name "David", derived from Hebrew meaning "beloved".

Name Census estimates that about 12 living Americans carry the first name Davens. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Davens today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Davens births was 2024 (7 babies).

This page is the full Name Census profile for Davens. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.

Key insights

  • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Davens. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.

People living today

12

~ 1 in 28,562,862 Americans

Peak year

2024

7 babies that year

Average age

8

years old

2024 SSA rank

#10,092

Tracked since 2009

Popularity

Davens: popularity over time

The SSA tracks Davens from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 7 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.

Babies born per year

02457201020152020

Decades

Davens by decade

The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Davens during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.

DecadeMaleFemaleTotal
2000s505
2020s707

Origin

Meaning and history of Davens

The name Davens finds its origins in the ancient Aramaic language, which was widely spoken in the Middle East region during the first millennium BC. It is believed to have derived from the Aramaic word "daven," which means "to pray" or "to worship." This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who were deeply religious or devoted to spiritual practices.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Davens can be traced back to the ancient city of Palmyra, located in present-day Syria. In the 3rd century AD, there was a prominent figure known as Davens of Palmyra, who was a wealthy merchant and influential figure in the city's trade and commerce. His name was inscribed on various monuments and inscriptions, indicating the significance of his role in the region's economic and cultural life.

During the Byzantine era, the name Davens was also found in various religious texts and manuscripts. It was not uncommon for monks and scribes to adopt the name, reflecting their dedication to prayer and spiritual contemplation. One notable figure from this period was Davens the Scribe, a renowned calligrapher and illuminator of manuscripts in the 6th century AD.

As the name spread across different regions and cultures, it underwent various spelling variations. In the Middle Ages, the name appeared as "Davenes" in certain European records, while in the Arabic-speaking world, it was written as "Dāwin."

Throughout history, several individuals with the name Davens have left their mark. One such figure was Davens the Physician, a renowned medical practitioner who lived in the 9th century AD in the Abbasid Caliphate. His contributions to the field of medicine and his teachings influenced generations of scholars and healers.

Another notable individual was Davens the Poet, a celebrated writer and poet from the 11th century AD who hailed from the region of modern-day Iran. His poetic works, which often explored themes of spirituality and love, were widely admired and preserved for centuries.

In the realm of religious leadership, Davens the Patriarch was a prominent figure in the Eastern Orthodox Church during the 14th century. He played a crucial role in resolving theological disputes and shaping the church's doctrine and practices during his time.

During the Renaissance period, Davens the Artist emerged as a skilled painter and sculptor in the Italian city-states. His works, which often depicted religious themes and scenes from the Bible, were highly regarded and can still be found adorning various churches and museums across Italy.

The name Davens has a rich history and has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds and eras, each leaving their unique mark on the world through their contributions and achievements.

People

Davens + last name combinations

How many people share a full name with Davens as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.

Related

Other names starting with D

Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.

FAQ

Davens: questions and answers

How many people in the U.S. are named Davens?

Name Census puts the figure at roughly 12 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Davens going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 28,562,862 US residents.

Is Davens a common name?

We classify Davens as "Very Rare". It ranks above 32.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12 babies have been registered with this name.

When was Davens most popular?

The single biggest year for Davens was 2024, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Davens is about 8 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.

What does the SSA popularity chart show?

The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Davens in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.

Is Davens a male name?

Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Davens in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.

Is Davens still being used today?

Yes. The SSA still recorded Davens in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.

Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?

Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Davens can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.

Where does this data come from?

First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.

Does every first name have Census demographic data?

No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.

How common is the name Davens?

See how many people have the name Davens on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.

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Davens

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