Dova
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from the Slavic word meaning "gift" or "dove".
Name Census estimates that about 1 living Americans carry the first name Dova. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Dova today is around 67 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Dova births was 1925 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Dova. 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
- • The typical person named Dova is about 67 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Dovas were born before 1969.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Dova. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
1
~ 1 in 342,754,338 Americans
Peak year
1925
7 babies that year
Average age
67
years old
1925 SSA rank
#4,127
Tracked since 1898
Popularity
Dova: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Dova from the 1890s through to the 1920s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 26 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1910s peak, Dova remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dova 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 Dova during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Dova
The name Dova is believed to have its origins in the Slavic languages, particularly in the regions of eastern and central Europe. It is thought to be derived from the Proto-Slavic root word "dov," which means "gift" or "present." This suggests that the name Dova might have been given to children who were considered a gift or blessing.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dova can be found in the medieval Slavic literature, where it appears as a female name. In the 13th-century epic poem "The Tale of Igor's Campaign," there is a character named Dova, who is described as a beautiful and virtuous maiden.
In the 15th century, there is a record of a Dova Krasinska, a Polish noblewoman who played a significant role in the political and cultural affairs of her time. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her efforts to promote education among the nobility.
During the 16th century, the name Dova gained popularity in Russia, particularly among the aristocratic classes. One notable figure from this period was Dova Godunova, a member of the influential Godunov family and a cousin of Tsar Boris Godunov, who ruled Russia from 1598 to 1605.
In the 19th century, the name Dova appeared in the literary works of several renowned authors. For instance, in the novel "Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy, one of the minor characters is named Dova Oblonsky, the wife of a prominent Moscow aristocrat.
Another notable figure with the name Dova was Dova Korovin (1858-1939), a Russian painter and art teacher who played a significant role in the development of the Russian Impressionist movement. Her works are celebrated for their vibrant use of color and their depictions of everyday life in Russia.
While the name Dova may not be as common today as it once was in certain regions, its rich history and cultural significance in the Slavic world make it a unique and distinctive name with deep roots in the past.
People
Dova + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Dova 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
Dova: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Dova?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Dova 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 342,754,338 US residents.
Is Dova a common name?
We classify Dova as "Very Rare". It ranks above 3.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 56 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Dova most popular?
The single biggest year for Dova was 1925, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Dova is about 67 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 Dova in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Dova a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Dova in the SSA data are female. 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 Dova still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Dova 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 Dova 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 many people are named Dova?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.