Davey Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: DAY-vee //ˈdeɪ.vi//
Origin: Hebrew; English
Meaning: Hebrew: beloved; English: diminutive of David
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Davey is derived from the Hebrew name David, which means "beloved." The etymological journey begins with the Hebrew דָּוִד (Dāwīḏ), which was transliterated into Greek as Δαβίδ (Dabid) and subsequently into Latin as Davidus. The name entered Old French as David, and from there it evolved into the English form Davey, often used as a diminutive or affectionate variant of David.
This transition reflects the linguistic shifts and adaptations as the name traveled through different cultures and languages over centuries. Historically, David is a significant biblical figure, known as the second king of Israel and a central character in the Hebrew Bible.
His reign is traditionally dated to around the 10th century BCE, and he is celebrated for his military prowess, poetic contributions (including the Psalms), and his complex personal narrative. The name David has been borne by numerous saints and monarchs throughout history, further solidifying its prominence.
The name's enduring legacy was reinforced by its inclusion in major translations of the Bible, such as the King James Version published in 1611, which helped popularize biblical names in English-speaking cultures. Culturally, the name Davey carries connotations of affection and familiarity, often associated with warmth and endearment.
In various literary and artistic works, figures named David or its diminutive forms have been depicted as heroic or beloved characters, which has contributed to the name's lasting resonance in Western culture. The diminutive Davey, while less formal, evokes a sense of intimacy and approachability, aligning with the name's original meaning of "beloved." This connection to cherished relationships has helped maintain the name's significance across generations.
Famous people named Davey
In this section, you will find notable people named Davey. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Davey who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Davey who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Davey Havok is a singer best known for being the lead vocalist of AFI, Blaqk Audio, and his solo work.
Davey Jones was a musician best known for being the lead singer of The Monkees and for the television series The Monkees.
Fictional characters named Davey
The following list of fictional characters named Davey is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Davey is a fictional character from the animated series Davey and Goliath. He is a young boy who learns moral lessons through his adventures with his talking dog, Goliath.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Davey, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Davey. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Davey was first seen in the United States in 1925.
Davey has ranked as high as #986 nationally, which occurred in 1955, and has been most popular in California, North Carolina, Georgia, Illinois, and Louisiana.
In the past 5 years the name Davey has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Davey is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Davey was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Davey (2023)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 8 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Davey.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 32 |
| 2023 | 29 |
| 2022 | 35 |
| 2021 | 31 |
| 2020 | 29 |
| 2019 | 22 |
| 2018 | 23 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2016 | 20 |
| 2015 | 23 |
| 2014 | 18 |
| 2013 | 18 |
| 2012 | 17 |
| 2011 | 19 |
| 2010 | 26 |
| 2009 | 14 |
| 2008 | 14 |
| 2007 | 25 |
| 2006 | 19 |
| 2005 | 22 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2003 | 15 |
| 2002 | 29 |
| 2001 | 20 |
| 2000 | 14 |
| 1999 | 28 |
| 1998 | 25 |
| 1997 | 34 |
| 1996 | 32 |
| 1995 | 34 |
| 1994 | 75 |
| 1993 | 72 |
| 1992 | 26 |
| 1991 | 26 |
| 1990 | 20 |
| 1989 | 33 |
| 1988 | 29 |
| 1987 | 26 |
| 1986 | 27 |
| 1985 | 26 |
| 1984 | 20 |
| 1983 | 28 |
| 1982 | 38 |
| 1981 | 36 |
| 1980 | 39 |
| 1979 | 42 |
| 1978 | 59 |
| 1977 | 49 |
| 1976 | 50 |
| 1975 | 34 |
| 1974 | 38 |
| 1973 | 53 |
| 1972 | 42 |
| 1971 | 41 |
| 1970 | 57 |
| 1969 | 47 |
| 1968 | 51 |
| 1967 | 39 |
| 1966 | 32 |
| 1965 | 37 |
| 1964 | 50 |
| 1963 | 61 |
| 1962 | 70 |
| 1961 | 54 |
| 1960 | 57 |
| 1959 | 58 |
| 1958 | 60 |
| 1957 | 41 |
| 1956 | 54 |
| 1955 | 93 |
| 1954 | 55 |
| 1953 | 74 |
| 1952 | 44 |
| 1951 | 38 |
| 1950 | 42 |
| 1949 | 50 |
| 1948 | 42 |
| 1947 | 37 |
| 1946 | 25 |
| 1945 | 15 |
| 1944 | 10 |
| 1943 | 19 |
| 1942 | 18 |
| 1941 | 17 |
| 1940 | 8 |
| 1939 | 16 |
| 1938 | 14 |
| 1937 | 15 |
| 1936 | 9 |
| 1935 | 17 |
| 1934 | 22 |
| 1933 | 15 |
| 1932 | 26 |
| 1931 | 45 |
| 1930 | 54 |
| 1929 | 89 |
| 1928 | 9 |
| 1925 | 5 |