Dave
Boy name · #2451 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Dave? In official American birth records, Dave has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 55 baby boys were named Dave, placing it at #2451 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2145, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 32,727 boys born in 2025 was named Dave.
Babies named Dave per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Dave first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 131 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1959, when 3,308 boys were named Dave — good for #119 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Dave against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Dave in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Dave is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Dave will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Dave is most common
State-level data for Dave is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Dave
Statistically, parents drawn to Dave tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Duane, Steve, Dale, Dino, and Pete.
DuaneSteveDaleDinoPeteDanDwayneStevie
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Dave | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 55 | #2451 |
| 2024 | 76 | #2012 |
| 2023 | 65 | #2188 |
| 2022 | 60 | #2355 |
| 2021 | 64 | #2193 |
| 2020 | 72 | #1977 |
| 2019 | 67 | #2129 |
| 2018 | 76 | #1937 |
| 2017 | 81 | #1829 |
| 2016 | 55 | #2365 |
| 2015 | 64 | #2145 |
| 2014 | 77 | #1884 |
| 2013 | 78 | #1827 |
| 2012 | 78 | #1863 |
| 2011 | 70 | #1968 |
| 2010 | 71 | #1957 |
| 2009 | 84 | #1789 |
| 2008 | 94 | #1639 |
| 2007 | 101 | #1552 |
| 2006 | 90 | #1605 |
| 2005 | 100 | #1460 |
| 2004 | 100 | #1414 |
| 2003 | 115 | #1253 |
| 2002 | 109 | #1244 |
| 2001 | 98 | #1327 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Dave?
In official American birth records, the name Dave first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 131 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Dave a popular boy name?
Dave ranked #2451 among boys in 2025 with 55 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2145.
When was the name Dave most popular?
Dave peaked in 1959, when 3,308 American boys received the name (ranked #119 that year). Since 1959 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Dave?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 32,727 newborn American boys was named Dave. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.