David

About David

David is a Hebrew name traditionally meaning “beloved.” Its history includes the biblical king, the patron saint of Wales, and the central character of Charles Dickens’s David Copperfield. The familiar English forms Dave and Davy give it a relaxed everyday side alongside its long religious history.

Meaning and origin

David comes from Hebrew Dawid and is associated with an older word connected with love or a beloved person. The English form preserves a recognizable version of a name that appears in many languages.

The same family includes Italian Davide and Welsh Dafydd. These forms carry different spelling and pronunciation traditions, while retaining a connection to David’s older history. The short English meaning “beloved” has helped give the name a warm association alongside its more formal biblical setting.

Biblical and Welsh history

The biblical David is the shepherd who defeats Goliath and later becomes king of Israel. His story brings together music, conflict, kingship, and family, making him one of the most recognizable figures in the Hebrew Bible.

In Wales, Saint David provides another major connection. Known in Welsh as Dewi, he is the country’s patron saint. For families with Welsh connections, David can therefore carry a particularly strong cultural association in addition to its wider biblical history.

Literary connections

Charles Dickens used David for the narrator and central character of David Copperfield. The novel follows him from childhood into adult life, making the name part of a story about growing up, relationships, hardship, and finding a place in the world.

That literary connection gives David a familiar human scale alongside the king and saint. It is a name that works naturally for an ordinary character as well as a historical figure, which is part of its versatility in English.

Pronunciation and nicknames

In English, David is usually pronounced DAY-vid, with stress on the first syllable. The repeated d sounds give it a clear beginning and ending, while the two-syllable rhythm keeps it compact. Hebrew pronunciation places the emphasis differently, on the final syllable.

Dave is the most direct English shortening. Davy and Davie keep two syllables while replacing the firmer final consonant with an ee sound. Someone who prefers the full David can use it easily in everyday conversation without needing a nickname.

Related names and style

Dafydd and Davide offer related forms with distinctive language connections. Dewi provides a particularly Welsh alternative. For a similar established biblical style, compare David with Daniel, Samuel, and Joseph. Daniel shares its opening sound, while Samuel and Joseph offer other familiar English nickname options.

American usage and historical context

David ranked #35 for boys in the United States in 2025, with 6,794 recorded births. Its largest annual count was 86,306 in 1955, and it reached its best national rank of #1 in 1960. David remains common today, though its midcentury peak was much larger.