What does the name Dave mean? The origin of David, explained

Dave is short for David, and David is a Hebrew name that is usually translated as "beloved". That's the answer most name dictionaries give, and it's the one the Society prefers, for obvious reasons. The fuller story involves a shepherd who became a king, a Welsh saint, a Scottish king, a Georgian king and roughly 3.7 million American baby boys.

Where does the name David come from?

David comes from the Hebrew Dawid (דָּוִד). The usual explanation links it to the Hebrew word dod, which can mean "beloved" or "friend", and in some contexts "uncle". Scholars still debate the exact origin, as they do for most names this old. But "beloved" is the meaning that stuck, and it's the one you'll find in almost every baby-name book.

Who was the first David?

The first famous David, and the reason anyone is called David at all, is King David of Israel. In the Hebrew Bible he starts out as a shepherd boy. He beats the giant Goliath with a sling and a single stone, becomes king after Saul, and is remembered as a musician and the traditional author of many of the Psalms.

King David matters to three major religions. In Judaism he is the great king of Israel. In Christianity he is an ancestor of Jesus. In Islam he is the prophet Dawud, to whom the Psalms (the Zabur) were revealed. That shared respect is a large part of why the name travelled so far.

How did David become so common?

The name spread across Europe with Christianity, and a few famous bearers helped it along:

• Saint David (Dewi Sant), a 6th-century bishop who became the patron saint of Wales. That's why David, Dafydd and Dewi are so common in Wales. See our guide to St David's Day.
• King David I of Scotland, who reigned from 1124 to 1153, made the name royal in Scotland.
• King David IV of Georgia, known as "the Builder", is a national hero in Georgia, where the name is spelled Davit.

By the 20th century David was one of the most common boys' names in the English-speaking world. In the United States it was the number one boys' name in 1960.

When did David become Dave?

Common names collect nicknames, and David has collected several. Davy and Davie are the older ones; think of the frontiersman Davy Crockett, born in 1786. In Wales the traditional short form is Dai. Dave is the one most people use today, and it's the version on most office name badges. For the Daves who made the name famous, see famous Daves.

Is Dave a real name or just a nickname?

Both. Most Daves are Davids on their birth certificate, but some parents register Dave as the full name. Either way, the Society's position is clear: if you answer to Dave, you are a Dave. Article 2 of the bylaws covers Davids who insist on being called David.

What is the female version of David?

The best-known feminine forms are Davina, which is especially common in Scotland, and the rarer Davida. Many women are simply called Dave too. The Society welcomes all Daves.

What is David in other languages?

The name has a version almost everywhere: Dafydd in Welsh, Davide in Italian, Dawid in Polish, Dawud in Arabic, Kawika in Hawaiian, and many more. We've collected them in David in other languages.