The name Davy has its origins in the Hebrew name David, which means "beloved" or "friend." It is derived from the Hebrew word "dod," meaning "beloved." The name David has been in use since ancient times and is found in the Bible as the name of the iconic King David of Israel, who ruled in the 10th century BC.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Davy as a diminutive form of David can be traced back to the Middle Ages in England. It was a common nickname or pet name used for individuals named David during that time period. The spelling "Davy" emerged as a variant of the more traditional diminutive "Davie."

In the 16th century, the Scottish poet and playwright David Lindsay is known to have used the spelling "Davy" in his writings, which may have contributed to its wider adoption and popularity. Another notable figure from the same era is Davy Crockett, the famous American folk hero and frontiersman who was born in 1786 and died at the Alamo in 1836.

One of the most renowned individuals to bear the name Davy is the English chemist and inventor Sir Humphry Davy, who lived from 1778 to 1829. He is credited with the invention of the Davy lamp, a safety lamp for use in coal mines, and made significant contributions to the fields of chemistry and electrochemistry.

Another famous Davy was the English pirate and explorer Davy Jones, who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. His name has become associated with the mythical "Davy Jones's Locker," a metaphor for the bottom of the sea, where drowned sailors were said to go.

In the realm of literature, the character Davy Prentiss Jr. from John Irving's novel "The Cider House Rules" is a notable example of the name's use in modern times. The novel was published in 1985 and later adapted into a film in 1999.