David
Peaked at #1 nationally in 1960, based on real US Social Security Administration birth records.
Girls vs. boys, all-time
Since 1880, David has been recorded <1% of the time for girls and >99% of the time for boys.
Meaning & origin
David comes from the Hebrew "Dawid," widely translated as "beloved." It owes its lasting popularity largely to the biblical King David, the shepherd-turned-monarch of Israel credited with authoring many of the Psalms, and it has been in continuous use across Jewish and Christian cultures for millennia.
Notable people & culture
Saint David is the patron saint of Wales, and the name was borne by several medieval Scottish kings. Modern namesakes include musician David Bowie, footballer David Beckham, and filmmaker David Lynch. Michelangelo's famous Renaissance sculpture also depicts the biblical David.
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David — Girls (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#561
in 1967
Current rank
#12438
in 2024
Years tracked
128
1883–2024
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1883, David reached its peak popularity for girls in 1967, ranking #561 nationally with 282 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #8595 (2014) to #12438 (2024) — a 31% drop.
As of 2024, David ranks #12438 nationally for girls, with 7 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #12,438 | 7 |
| 2023 | #11,427 | 8 |
| 2022 | #14,008 | 6 |
| 2021 | #9,112 | 11 |
| 2020 | #9,732 | 10 |
| 2019 | #8,717 | 12 |
| 2018 | #7,866 | 14 |
| 2017 | #10,903 | 9 |
David — Boys (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#1
in 1960
Current rank
#31
in 2024
Years tracked
145
1880–2024
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1880, David reached its peak popularity for boys in 1960, ranking #1 nationally with 85,908 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #17 (2014) to #31 (2024) — a 45% drop.
As of 2024, David ranks #31 nationally for boys, with 7,317 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #31 | 7,317 |
| 2023 | #27 | 7,413 |
| 2022 | #31 | 7,820 |
| 2021 | #30 | 7,925 |
| 2020 | #28 | 8,259 |
| 2019 | #27 | 8,984 |
| 2018 | #22 | 9,811 |
| 2017 | #22 | 10,241 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, National Data, 1880–2024.
Similar trajectory
Other names that peaked around the same era and rose or fell on a comparable curve.
Based on US data — boys' names only.
Common Questions
When was David most popular?
David was most popular in 1960, when it ranked #1 nationally for boys — the highest rank it has reached in this data.
Is David becoming more or less popular?
For girls, it's currently falling; for boys, it's currently falling, based on the last decade of SSA data.
How many babies have been named David?
At least 3,682,683 babies have been recorded with the name David in the US since 1880, according to Social Security Administration birth records.
Looking for more name ideas like David? Try the Baby Name Generator or compare it against other names on the Name Trends hub.