Dog name guide

David

The meaning, background and naming story of David.

Letters
5
Syllables
2Dictionary reading
Starts with
D

Meaning and background

The story behind David

David has a long history as a Hebrew personal name and a prominent biblical bearer in King David. It is commonly explained through Hebrew dōd, associated with 'beloved', although that Hebrew element also has other senses, including 'uncle'. For a dog, David is refreshingly straightforward: a recognisable human name with established English pronunciation and plenty of natural short forms.

Origin
Hebrew personal name David (דָּוִד), transmitted through biblical usage Source
Meaning
Traditionally associated with Hebrew dōd “beloved”; interpretation is not beyond dispute Source

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Everyday moments

“David, come here!”

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About David

Recorded as a dog’s name

David appears in 8 dog licence records in the 2026 New York City dataset.

How to read this count

These records cover New York City and may count the same dog in more than one licence period. They are not a national popularity ranking.

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Pronunciation and rhythm

/deɪvɪd/

US English sound sequence, converted from the CMU dictionary. Stress marks are shown separately.

Stress on the first syllable in the recorded US readings.

View dictionary notation

/deɪvɪd/ · primary stress on syllable 1
D EY1 V IH0 D

These are US dictionary readings. Personal, regional and other language pronunciations may differ.

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Sources and research notes (2)

References support the individual facts shown. A source link does not mean the entire profile has been verified.

More names to consider

Suggestions by sound, written form or existing editorial selections. Similarity does not imply a shared origin.

Davey

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Daily

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Daisy

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