How Many People Are Named Dave?
Complete statistics for the name Dave: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Dave is an old-school name with roots in Old English, making it rare but beloved. It's estimated that 1 in 8,969 Americans today are named Dave, totaling around 36,792 people. The majority, 84%, are over 60, giving the name a distinctly older feel.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life-path number 5 symbolizes freedom, adventure, and change.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 75All 64,311 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1959Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Slowly declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Dave Through the Generations
Dave has been a steady presence through the generations, peaking in popularity in 1959 with 3,308 births. Today, the name skews older, with 54,176 individuals over 60, compared to just 2,325 under 30. This trend reflects its status as a classic, slowly declining name, cherished by those who grew up with it.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Dave
Dave is a given name, often a shortened form of the names David, Davey, or others. The name means "beloved".…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Dave's Old English roots
📄 About the Name Dave
How Many People Have the Name Dave?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 5,994 people in the United States currently share the name Dave. That works out to roughly 1 in every 55,297 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.
Is Dave a Common or Rare Name?
Dave is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Dave Mean?
Dave means "loving guardian" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 5.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Dave in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.
When Was Dave Most Popular?
The name Dave reached peak popularity in 1959, with 3,308 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Dave?
Approximately 5,994 people named Dave live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 5,994. That works out to roughly 1 in 55,297 Americans.
Is Dave a rare name?
Dave is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 55,297 Americans has this name.
What does the name Dave mean?
Dave means "loving guardian" and comes from Old English origins.
Is Dave more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Dave are male and 0% are female.
When was Dave most popular?
Dave peaked in 1959 with 3,308 births that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.