Baby Name Popularity Profile

David

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for David.

✦ Beloved 🌍 Hebrew biblical traditional
National Rank (2025) #35
All-Time Peak Rank #1 Achieved 1960
Total U.S. Births 3,676,654 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 99.9% Boy / 0.1% Girl Overwhelmingly Male
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 1950s 86,306 births in 1955
💡 The David Vibe: Considered a Perennial Favorite. A historic staple that has maintained dominant national popularity for over half a century.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Beloved
Language Origin Hebrew
Origin Type single
Derived from the Hebrew name Dawid, meaning 'beloved' or 'dear'.
Common Nicknames
Dave Davy
Alternative Spellings
Davide Dawud
Pronunciation: DAY-vid
Themes & Categories
biblical traditional
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind David

According to SSA data, David achieved its highest historical rank of #1 in 1960. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1955 with 86,306 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 42.6%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of David across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Declining
10-Year Shift -42.6% Decline
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 86,306 births in 1955
Years in Top 100 146 yrs
Years in Top 500 146 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Very Stable
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 7,569
1890s: 7,333
1900s: 8,619
1910s: 43,853
1920s: 88,736
1930s: 164,701
1940s: 426,372
1950s: 769,963
1960s: 733,953
1970s: 445,704
1980s: 383,687
1990s: 253,711
2000s: 180,098
2010s: 116,740
2020s: 45,615

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Da-vid
Letter Count 5 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 7.7% of names
Linguistic Profile: Longer than 7.7% of SSA names. Starts with D, a letter used by only 6.6% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with David.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Rhode Island
Top States Rhode Island, Delaware, Vermont, District of Columbia, Alaska
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Rhode Island #45 19,615 1955 Insufficient historical volume
Delaware #36 10,128 1960 28.6% Decline
Vermont Unranked 8,532 1955 Insufficient historical volume
District of Columbia #35 21,777 1960 26.9% Decline
Alaska #43 6,748 1955 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts #62 115,997 1960 22.9% Decline
Wyoming Unranked 6,267 1955 Insufficient historical volume
Connecticut #51 50,848 1961 9.0% Decline
New Hampshire #132 14,368 1955 Insufficient historical volume
Maine #105 19,667 1960 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #53 205,131 1955 26.0% Decline
Michigan #46 167,117 1955 7.7% Decline
West Virginia #110 40,367 1955 40.0% Decline
Indiana #44 100,144 1955 20.0% Decline
Wisconsin #71 83,588 1955 15.8% Decline
Pennsylvania #29 223,324 1955 4.4% Decline
Oregon #57 37,514 1952 32.2% Decline
Minnesota #54 74,904 1955 +8.0% Growth
Iowa #74 52,832 1955 23.7% Decline
Maryland #42 58,781 1960 28.8% Decline
Washington #30 62,140 1955 10.1% Decline
Montana #80 11,652 1957 Insufficient historical volume
New Mexico #33 20,516 1961 11.9% Decline
California #37 378,808 1961 31.3% Decline
Illinois #40 186,067 1960 27.6% Decline
New York #15 284,489 1960 9.4% Decline
South Dakota #70 12,427 1950 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho #82 14,390 1955 20.0% Decline
Hawaii #95 11,173 1964 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey #23 99,600 1961 14.1% Decline
Missouri #47 80,315 1955 7.3% Decline
North Dakota #46 12,118 1952 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas #54 37,492 1955 23.3% Decline
Utah #57 29,168 1957 7.1% Decline
Kentucky #38 61,377 1960 Stable
Colorado #48 42,194 1955 15.2% Decline
Nebraska #27 25,446 1955 +63.6% Growth
Virginia #39 78,212 1961 25.3% Decline
Tennessee #42 69,907 1955 16.5% Decline
Arizona #33 39,619 1960 19.0% Decline
Oklahoma #60 44,036 1955 22.0% Decline
North Carolina #29 92,454 1955 +2.9% Growth
Nevada #47 10,563 2007 29.2% Decline
South Carolina #27 45,856 1961 5.8% Decline
Florida #37 107,377 1960 16.3% Decline
Texas #29 231,913 1959 20.0% Decline
Alabama #38 53,131 1959 15.5% Decline
Arkansas #44 31,263 1954 9.7% Decline
Georgia #39 78,425 1955 24.5% Decline
Louisiana #35 49,398 1959 +2.4% Growth
Mississippi #40 33,862 1961 22.2% Decline

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Joseph Thomas Michael Peter Rocky Allen Robin Roger Ricky Randy
👧 Sister Suggestions
Valerie Margo Julie Ellen Susan Karen Cindy Venus Marla Marta

🔗 Names You Might Also Like

Based on statistical similarity and shared characteristics with David:

Demographic & Volume Peers
Dovid Dawud Duard Dylan Desmond Danny Daryl Denis Davey Doran
More biblical Names
Browse all biblical names → Browse Hebrew names →

🗂️ Browse More Baby Names

Explore our name indexes and data tracks:

👦 Top Boy Names → 2-Syllable Names → 5-Letter Names → More Perennial Favorite Names → Hebrew Origin Names → biblical Names → Names Peaking in 1955 → 🗺️ Regional State Data →