Dave Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Dave originates from the Hebrew name David, meaning 'beloved'. It has evolved through various forms, including Dawid and Dafydd, before becoming popular as Dave in modern English. The name carries a strong biblical relevance through King David. Today, it is viewed positively as a casual and friendly name, with notable individuals bearing the name contributing to its popularity.
The name Dave is most popular in Montana, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Dave has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Dave' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 275th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 211th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 167th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 388th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 854th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1513th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2079th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6167th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 6133rd out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 7387th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 16521st out of 19264 names. Discover how the name 'Dave' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Dave"
Pronunciation
/deɪv/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Dave is derived from the Hebrew name David, which means 'beloved'.
Meaning
beloved
Language Evolution
David (Hebrew), Dawid (Old French), Dafydd (Welsh), Dave (Modern English)
Biblical Background
The name has significant biblical relevance as King David is a central figure in the Bible, known for his leadership and poetic talents.
Historical Usage
Dave gained popularity as a diminutive form of David in the 20th century, especially in English-speaking countries.
Variants & Derivatives
David, Davy, Dav, Dae
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Dave is often perceived as a friendly and approachable name, commonly used in casual settings.
Famous People
Dave Chappelle, Dave Grohl, Dave Bautista, Dave Matthews
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Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Dave"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Dave"
"Dave" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 275th of 7545 | 6,459 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 211th of 6773 | 11,452 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 167th of 7552 | 32,347 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 388th of 10718 | 6,780 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 854th of 16616 | 2,179 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1513th of 24088 | 1,491 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2079th of 23106 | 834 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 6167th of 9107 | 27 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 6133rd of 9204 | 29 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 7387th of 12526 | 43 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 16521st of 19264 | 10 |
Regional Popularity of "Dave" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
25.28% 358th/1416 |
28.50% 393rd/1379 |
9.64% 228th/2366 |
20.40% 233rd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
10.61% 164th/1546 |
16.39% 255th/1556 |
12.62% 297th/2353 |
9.31% 144th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
5.34% 119th/2227 |
7.24% 176th/2430 |
10.94% 312th/2853 |
4.47% 124th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
9.70% 285th/2937 |
10.80% 376th/3483 |
15.04% 529th/3518 |
8.46% 342nd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
29.09% 1072nd/3685 |
14.99% 671st/4475 |
17.79% 924th/5194 |
13.46% 850th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
51.90% 2378th/4582 |
21.11% 1090th/5164 |
20.09% 1469th/7313 |
20.37% 1520th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
64.48% 2569th/3984 |
32.94% 1478th/4487 |
27.38% 1868th/6822 |
32.44% 2036th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Dave" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Dave"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Dave" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.