Name meaning & stats
Dave
Dave means “beloved” (English origin). 49,734 US babies since 1940, peak 1959. Notable Daves are 2.9× over-represented as baseball players.
What it means
“beloved”
EnglishWell documented
A short form of David.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1959
49,734 US babies were named Dave between 1940 and 2025.
Where Daves end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| NFL-style footballer | 1.6× | High · 186 people |
| Footballer | 1.5× | High · 178 people |
| Baseball player | 2.9× | High · 161 people |
| Musician | 1.7× | High · 125 people |
Among notable men who are baseball players, Daves show up 2.9× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Dave has a surprise career: 2.3×
Name twins (peaked around 1959)