Origin, Meaning, And History of David
David, a masculine name, has biblical roots and originates from the Hebrew name Dawid, which is further derived from the Hebrew word Dod, meaning ‘uncle’ or ‘beloved.’
The Old and New Testaments are rife with mentions of the second king of Israel, King David, who used a slingshot to defeat the giant Philistine Goliath. Religions such as Judaism, Islam, and Christianity regard him as a messiah and a significant figure capable of uniting Israel under a single monarchy.
Different cultures have different ways of pronouncing David as a baby name. Some of the most popular ones are DAY-vid in English, da-VEED in Hebrew and Brazilian Portuguese, DA-VEED in French, da-BEEDH in Spanish, du-VEED in European Portuguese, də-BEET in Catalan, DA-vit in German, Dutch, and Czech, DAH-vid in Swedish and Norwegian, and du-VYEET in Russian.
Similarly, if you are exploring different variants of the name, Daividh in Scottish; Dafydd, Taffy, and Dewi in Welsh; Davi in Brazilian Portuguese; Davide in Italian; Taavi in Finnish; Dovydas in Lithuanian; Dawood in Arabic; and Dovid in Yiddish are some prevalent options.
If David’s rich cultural and biblical heritage inspires you to use the name for your baby, Davina, Davena, Davida, and Davinia are some interesting variants to try.
Nicknames can be used when you do not wish to call your little one by the given name but want something unique. Dav, Dave, Davy, Davie, and Dewey are some of the popular choices for you.
David has received much love as a fictional character too. The Outsiders, a novel published in 1967, had a character named David. The protagonist of the British television sitcom The Office is named David Brent.
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, a 1984 American sci-fi film, had a character named David Marcus. David Seville is the producer and manager of the band Alvin and the Chipmunks, a cute American virtual brand.
How To Pronounce David?
Famous People With The Name David
- David AbramAmerican philosopher and ecologist, received the Lannan Literary Award for his books
- David Manker AbshireAmerican civil servant, received the US Military Academy’s Castle Award
- David AckroydAmerican actor, worked in the soap opera The Secret Storm
- David AkibaAmerican photographer, his landscape photographs were included in the documentary My Brother’s Wedding
- David William Donald CameronBritish former politician, served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016
- David McWilliams LudlumAmerican meteorologist, founded Weatherwise, the only weather magazine in the US in 1947
David On The Popularity Chart
Let us take a closer look at the graphs provided by the Social Security Administration to see how David as a baby name has managed over the years.
Popularity Over Time
From 1980 to 2000, David gained significant popularity. However, after that, its popularity decreased considerably. Check the graph below to understand better.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Over the years, David’s ranking as a baby name has decreased significantly. Glance through the graph below to understand better.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As David
Here are some names that sound similar to David. Pick the best one for your little sunshine.
Popular Sibling Names For David
Other Popular Names Beginning With D
Names With Similar Meaning As David
Do you like the meaning of David but want to consider other names before settling on one? Check the options below.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
达vid
In Sign Language
达vid
In Braille Alphabet
达vid
In Morse Code
达vid
Name Numerology For David
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name David?
The name David means ‘uncle’ or ‘beloved.’
2. What is the origin of the name David?
David is of Hebrew origin.
3. How to pronounce the name David?
David is pronounced as day-vidh.
4. What are some famous songs or movies that feature the name David?
There are several songs and movies featuring the name David. For example, King David is a musical composition with lyrics by the renowned English author Tim Rice. Sting’s ‘Mad About You’ is a song that features David as a character obsessed with Bathsheba, and Jokerman, a song by Bob Dylan, also has a reference to David. Lastly, Dr David “Dave” Bowman is a major character appearing throughout the ‘Space Odyssey’ movie series.
5. Is David considered a traditional or timeless name?
This name comes from King David, who is a major figure in the Bible. It was adopted as a Christian name in the sixth century. Many prominent rulers and bishops have taken on this name so far. So we can say that it is a traditional name. Although the name’s popularity has decreased in the modern day, it still remains in vogue.
