David
/D-EY-V-IH-D/
Beloved — the shepherd king who slew Goliath. The most universal male name across all European languages and the entire Western world.
See David scored for your familyQuick — what every parent wants to know about David:
Yes — David is a Christian boy name of Hebrew origin, meaning “Beloved — the shepherd king who slew Goliath. The most universal male name across all European languages and the entire Western world.”. It also appears in Jewish tradition.
How well does David fit your family?
This page tells you what David means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against the names already in your family, your heritage, and your baby's exact birth star.
Unlock David's score — free
Six signals — scored for your family, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
David is a boy's name of Hebrew origin, traditionally used in Christian families. The name means "Beloved — the shepherd king who slew Goliath. The most universal male name across all European languages and the entire Western world." and belongs to the Love cluster — names for children loved deeply before they arrive.
Beyond its Christian heritage, David is also used in Jewish traditions, reflecting how this name has traveled across cultures.
Common among European, American, Israeli, Singaporean, Iranian families, David carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
What would a baby named David look like?
NameRoot imagines a one-of-a-kind AI baby portrait for every name, shaped by its heritage — the features, the colouring, the feeling a name like David carries. No two are alike.
See David's portrait — and its full score — the moment you open the app.
See David's baby portrait →What does David's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how David resonates in either tradition.
David's destiny number is 4 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See David's full reading →
Does David go with your family's names?
David breaks into 5 sounds: /D-EY-V-IH-D/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so David sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear David beside your family's names →
Nicknames
Common affectionate forms of David — useful for everyday family conversation, early childhood, or as standalone given names themselves.
Names similar to David
If David resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Christian boy names, common in European families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Christian boy names from the Love cluster
Names that sound similar
Christian boy names that open with the same syllables as David
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like David — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about David
What does the name David mean?
David means "Beloved — the shepherd king who slew Goliath. The most universal male name across all European languages and the entire Western world.." It is a boy name of Hebrew origin, traditionally used in Christian families.
Is David a boy or girl name?
David is most commonly used as a boy name.
What is the origin of the name David?
David is of Hebrew origin, used in Christian, Jewish traditions, commonly among European, American, Israeli families.
Is David a Christian name?
Yes. David is a boy name traditionally used in Christian families, of Hebrew origin. It also appears in Jewish tradition.
What does David mean in Hebrew?
David originates from Hebrew, where it means "Beloved — the shepherd king who slew Goliath. The most universal male name across all European languages and the entire Western world.."
What are common nicknames for David?
Common short forms of David include Dave, Davey.
What is the numerology of David?
David has a Pythagorean destiny number of 4 — stability and disciplined work.
See how David scores for your family
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