David is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin that means "beloved" or "uncle." It is derived from the Hebrew word "dod," which translates to "uncle" in English.
The name David is prominent in Jewish history and is associated with several significant figures. The most famous bearer of the name is King David, a central figure in Judaism and Christianity, who ruled over the ancient Kingdom of Israel during the 10th century BCE. According to biblical accounts, King David was known for his courage, wisdom, and musical prowess. He is also considered the founder of Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel.
Another notable historical figure named David was Saint David, the patron saint of Wales. Born in the 6th century CE, Saint David was a bishop who founded several monasteries and became renowned for his piety and miracles. He is credited with establishing the feast day known as St. David's Day on March 1st.
The name David has been popular throughout history and continues to be widely used today. It has been borne by numerous famous individuals, including artists, musicians, writers, politicians, and athletes. Some well-known examples include King David II of Scotland, French writer Jean-Louis Guez de Balzac, American poet Hart Crane, actor David Niven, musician David Bowie, and basketball player David Robinson.
In terms of its popularity as a given name, David has consistently ranked among the top choices for boys' names in many countries. It was particularly popular during the mid-20th century but remains widely used today.
"The name Dabid has seen a steady stream of babies being born over the past few decades, with several years seeing 6 or more births each. The peak years were 1981 and 2001, both having 9 births. However, there's no clear trend showing any significant increase or decrease in popularity over time."