David
Boy name · #35 in 2025 · Uniqueness 42/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
David scores 42 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where David is most common
Geography matters for names, and David is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Davids were TX (815), CA (800), NY (595), FL (436), PA (280). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 42/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
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.