Dave
Boy name · #2451 in 2025 · Uniqueness 81/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Dave scores 81 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. 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
Geography matters for names, and Dave is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Daves were FL (13), NY (6), TX (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 81/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.