David Name Meaning, Origin and Pronunciation

ByNamelyra Editorial Team

David is a Hebrew-origin boy’s name meaning “beloved.”
Meaning beloved
Origin Hebrew
Pronunciation DAY-vid (English); dah-VEED (Hebrew, French, Spanish)
Gender Boy
Related forms Davide, Dawid, Dovid

Origin and history

David is one of the most consistently used names across Jewish, Christian, and broader Western history, largely due to its central figure, the Biblical King David. Its Hebrew meaning, beloved, has remained stable across the many languages that adopted the name, unlike some names whose meaning shifts or gets debated as they move between languages.

Is David a boy or girl name?

David is used almost exclusively as a boy’s name.

Nicknames for David

  • Dave
  • Davy

Names similar to David

  • Davide (the Italian form)
  • Dawid (the Polish form)
  • Dovid (the Yiddish form)

Frequently asked questions

Why is the pronunciation of David different in some languages?

English shifts the emphasis and vowel sound to DAY-vid, while Hebrew, French, and Spanish keep a pronunciation closer to dah-VEED, reflecting the name’s original Hebrew vowel structure.

Is David tied to a specific religious figure?

Yes, most prominently King David from the Hebrew Bible, a central figure across Judaism and Christianity, which is the main reason for the name’s long, wide use across so many cultures.

Has David’s meaning changed over time?

No, its Hebrew meaning of “beloved” has stayed consistent across the centuries and languages that adopted it, unlike some names with more debated etymologies.

Related reading

Related culture pages: Biblical boy names, Hebrew and Jewish names. Parent hub: name meanings.