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Name Lineage

    The first name Dave

    A boy’s name.

    Pronounced /deɪv/ 1 syllable Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    A diminutive of the male given name David, also used as a formal given name.

    Dave is a short form of

    .

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 11 boys were named Dave, making it the 2,133rd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2005, with 15 births (#1,299).

    01020 1996200020052010201520202025
    245
    babies named Dave, 1996–2025
    #2,133
    rank in 2025
    2005
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Dave with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Dave at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 55 boys born in the United States were named Dave, the 2,456th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1959, when 3,308 were.

    02,0004,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    64,492
    babies named Dave since 1880
    #2,456
    rank in 2025
    1959
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Dave in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    Дейв
    Dejv
    Bulgarian
    Ντέιβ
    Ntéiv
    Greek

    Famous people named Dave

    192 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Dave Grohl
      American rock musician, born 1969
    • Dave Farrell
      American bassist, born 1977
    • Dave Benton
      Aruban-Estonian musician (born 1951)
    • Dave Eggers
      American writer, editor, and publisher, born 1970
    • Dave Cowens
      American basketball player and coach, born 1948
    • Dave Lombardo
      Cuban-American drummer (born 1965)
    • Dave Bing
      American basketball player and politician (born 1943)
    • Dave Navarro
      American guitarist, born 1967
    • Dave Annable
      American actor, born 1979
    • Dave Filoni
      American film director (born 1974)
    • Dave Attell
      American stand-up comedian (born 1965)
    • Dave Foley
      Canadian actor (born 1963)

    Questions

    How popular is the name Dave?
    In 2025, 11 boys born in England and Wales were named Dave, ranking 2,133rd. Its peak was 2005, with 15 births.
    Is Dave a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 64,492 US babies named Dave since 1880 were boys.
    When was Dave most popular?
    1959 in the United States, when 3,308 babies were named Dave, its highest rank at 119th.
    How do you pronounce Dave?
    Dave is /deɪv/, one syllable.
    Is Dave also a surname?
    Yes. Dave is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.