Dave

Gender Usage of the Name Dave

Overall Gender Classification Methodology

Dave is overwhelmingly used as a name for boys. Approximately 99.96% of recorded bearers are male. This classification is supported by extensive records and is considered highly reliable.

Popularity of the Name Dave

• Worldwide

  #1478 Boy’s name (2025)

• • United States

    #2225 Boy’s name (2025)

  • United Kingdom

    #1973 Boy’s name (2025)

  • Canada

    #1447 Boy’s name (2024)

  • Australia

    Unranked (2025)

Note: Green bars show popularity (% of births); the violet line shows historical ranking. Data is based on official government birth records. Click any chart to view details by year and region.

Overall PopularityMethodology

Dave is listed under Common Boy Names worldwide. Its overall popularity is supported by stronger usage in United Kingdom across the available regional markets.

Ranking OverviewMethodology

Dave ranked #1,478 on the Popular Boys’ Names Worldwide List (2025). It fell from #749 in 2024 — a drop of 729 places. Dave is uncommon in official lists but appears occasionally.

Historically, its best recorded position was #129 in 1987. Its lowest recorded position was #2,380 in 2023. Over the last 5 years (2020–2025) the name rose 196 places (from #1,674 to #1,478).

Name StyleMethodology

Characteristics of the Name Dave

Pronunciation & StructureMethodology

Phonetic Source

CMU

Syllables

1 syllable — One-Syllable Boy Names

Length

4 letters — Short Boy Names

Starts with

D — Boy Names Starting with D

Ends with

e — Boy Names Ending in “e”

Name AestheticMethodology

Dave uses a single syllable and a sharp ending consonant to create a direct, accessible profile. The name is widely recognized through the Dave comedy series and the musician Dave Brubeck. This combination of brevity and popular media presence results in a Beautiful & Charming aesthetic.

Middle Names For Dave

Middle names used with DaveMethodology

Dave is most frequently used with these boy middle names: Dave Anthony · Dave Allen · Dave William · Dave Alan · Dave MichaelView all 116 boy middle names.

• Total 157 middle names used with Dave
• 8 girl middle names used with Dave
• 32 unisex middle names used with Dave

Middle name suggestions for DaveMethodology

Based on observed first-middle-name pattern combinations, Dave is most frequently associated with boy middle names that have 2 syllables, Strong–Weak stress pattern, 6 letters, and a starting sound of “a”.

Examples: Dave Andrew · Dave Albert · Dave Alfred · Dave Antwan · Dave Antwon. View all 40 suggested middle names.

Names Similar to Dave

Sound Like Dave Finder

Names with the exact same overall pronunciation and sound: Davy · Davi · Dev · View all 45 names

Spelled Like Dave Finder

Names with similar spelling patterns and letter sequences: Davey · Davie · Dayve · View all 9 names

Same Starting Sound Finder

Names that begin with a similar phonetic sound: David · Daniel · Donald · View all Top 100 names

Rhymes With Dave Finder

Names that share similar ending sounds and rhymes: Steve · Aarav · Clive · View all Top 100 names

Same Rhythm & Syllables Finder

Names with matching syllable stress and pronunciation rhythm: James · John · Charles · View all Top 100 names

Dictionary & Etymology of “Dave”

Dictionary Meaning of "Dave"Methodology

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

  Examples

  • David, with its final "d", sounds finished and complete, whereas Dave just kind of hangs there in the air, indefinitely. - - - Worse, if your name is Dave, the only possible nickname is "Davey", which makes you sound like you should be wearing a coonskin cap.
  • Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy said he would send two customers to tour a former Nazi concentration camp after they allegedly engaged in antisemitic behavior at a Barstool pub in Philadelphia, then later retracted that offer for at least one of them because he said the person was denying responsibility for what happened.

• A surname from Gujarati from Gujarati દવે (dave, “(one who has studied) two Vedas”)

• A female given name

Translations

The name Dave has 3 translations, for example: in Greek it is rendered as male given name, in Gujarati it is rendered as Gujarati surname, etc..

More Info

How to Spell Dave in ASL

• D
• a
• v
• e

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