David
Boy name · #35 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name David? In official American birth records, David has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 6,794 baby boys were named David, placing it at #35 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #18, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 265 boys born in 2025 was named David.
Babies named David per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
David first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 869 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1955, when 86,306 boys were named David — good for #2 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 David against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another David in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common David is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where David is most common
Geography matters for names, and David is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, David is most common in DC (7.5 per 1,000), NY (7 per 1,000), DE (6.8 per 1,000), AK (6.6 per 1,000), NE (6.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 4.6 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where David is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like David
Statistically, parents drawn to David tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Thomas, Joseph, John, Michael, and Charles.
ThomasJosephJohnMichaelCharlesRobertPeterDaniel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named David | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6,794 | #35 |
| 2024 | 7,369 | #31 |
| 2023 | 7,420 | #27 |
| 2022 | 7,829 | #31 |
| 2021 | 7,940 | #30 |
| 2020 | 8,263 | #28 |
| 2019 | 8,989 | #27 |
| 2018 | 9,812 | #22 |
| 2017 | 10,244 | #22 |
| 2016 | 11,153 | #19 |
| 2015 | 11,838 | #18 |
| 2014 | 12,259 | #17 |
| 2013 | 12,400 | #17 |
| 2012 | 12,565 | #20 |
| 2011 | 13,258 | #18 |
| 2010 | 14,222 | #15 |
| 2009 | 15,457 | #14 |
| 2008 | 16,347 | #14 |
| 2007 | 17,573 | #12 |
| 2006 | 17,671 | #13 |
| 2005 | 18,144 | #12 |
| 2004 | 18,412 | #14 |
| 2003 | 18,641 | #14 |
| 2002 | 18,704 | #13 |
| 2001 | 19,362 | #12 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name David?
In official American birth records, the name David first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 869 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is David a popular boy name?
David ranked #35 among boys in 2025 with 6,794 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #18.
When was the name David most popular?
David peaked in 1955, when 86,306 American boys received the name (ranked #2 that year). Since 1955 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name David?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 265 newborn American boys was named David. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.