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Davis Unisex

Popularity: #542 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationDAY-vis / /ˈdeɪ.vɪs/

English; Hebrew

Meaning

English: son of David; Hebrew: beloved

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Davis has its origins in the Hebrew name "Dawid," which means "beloved." This name was adopted into Greek as "Dávids" and later into Latin as "Davidis," indicating a patronymic form meaning "son of David." The transition into Old French occurred during the Norman Conquest, where it became "David" or "Davis," eventually making its way into Middle English. The name has thus evolved through various linguistic stages, reflecting its deep roots in biblical tradition.

Historically, the name David is most famously associated with the biblical King David, a central figure in the Old Testament who ruled Israel around the 10th century BCE. His story is recounted in several books of the Bible, including Samuel and Psalms, where he is depicted as a warrior, poet, and leader. The name gained further prominence through the Christian tradition, particularly with the translation of the Bible into English, including the King James Version in the early 17th century, which helped solidify its usage in English-speaking cultures.

The name Davis, as a surname and given name, has cultural resonance tied to notions of loyalty and affection, stemming from its original meaning. In medieval England, it became common to use surnames derived from given names, leading to the formation of Davis as a patronymic surname. This practice reflected social structures of the time, where lineage and familial connections were significant. The name has also been associated with various notable historical figures, including saints and scholars, which contributed to its enduring presence in Western culture.

Trend Summary

Davis has seen a steady popularity in the United States, often ranking within the top 200 names for boys.

Similar Names

Variants

  • Davy
  • Dave

International Variants

  • Dávid (Hungarian)
  • Davi (Portuguese)
  • Davide (Italian)

Famous people named Davis

Davis Cup is a prestigious international team competition in men's tennis.

Davis Guggenheim is a filmmaker best known for An Inconvenient Truth, Waiting for Superman, and He Named Me Malala.

Davis Love III is a professional golfer best known for winning the 1997 PGA Championship and multiple Ryder Cups.

Davis S. Moore is a sociologist best known for his work in social stratification and inequality.

Fictional characters named Davis

Sibling Suggestions

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Davis was first seen in the United States in 1880. Davis has ranked as high as #724 nationally, which occurred in 2007, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, and Alabama. In the past 5 years the name Davis has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Davis (2024)

StateBirthsShare
TX 43
11%
NC 33
8%
CA 31
8%
GA 30
8%
FL 22
6%
AL 22
6%
SC 20
5%
TN 16
4%
KY 14
4%
NY 14
4%
VA 13
3%
IN 12
3%
WI 10
3%
MS 10
3%
LA 9
2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
188017
188113
18829
188311
188411
188521
188618
188712
188819
188921
189020
189116
189220
189316
189412
189514
189621
189711
189814
189912
190020
190129
19028
190322
190424
190521
190633
190719
190820
190919
191040
191131
191247
191354
191480
1915104
1916115
1917114
1918133
1919150
1920117
1921142
1922140
1923125
1924174
1925140
1926122
1927142
1928135
1929110
1930109
1931120
1932113
193396
1934117
1935104
1936122
1937117
1938122
1939114
1940118
1941108
1942122
1943130
194494
1945126
1946145
1947147
1948160
1949154
1950126
1951144
1952142
1953128
1954144
1955151
1956137
1957123
1958138
1959138
1960134
1961138
1962112
1963123
1964107
1965117
1966108
1967115
196899
196997
1970132
1971118
197295
197399
197485
1975100
1976114
1977113
1978123
1979134
1980140
1981161
1982172
1983158
1984178
1985181
1986240
1987250
1988272
1989290
1990281
1991297
1992392
1993457
1994542
1995560
1996567
1997645
1998677
1999704
2000681
2001733
2002667
2003704
2004743
2005730
2006732
2007756
2008725
2009665
2010657
2011628
2012684
2013648
2014666
2015629
2016620
2017587
2018561
2019529
2020511
2021507
2022441
2023456
2024429