David
/ˈdeɪvɪd/
noun
Origin
Hebrew
דוד (dwd) — beloved
Overview
Meaning Now
- A masculine given name of Hebrew origin.
- A biblical king of Israel known for his victory over Goliath and his role as a musician and poet.
Literal older meaning
beloved
Language path
Hebrew → Ancient Greek → Latin → English
Earliest form
דָּוִד (Dāwīḏ)
Earliest period
11th century BCE
Journey
The name is central to Judeo-Christian tradition through King David. Its popularity in English-speaking regions was bolstered by its use in the Bible and the veneration of St. David, the patron saint of Wales.
Evolution
- Biblical Hebrew
Dāwīḏ
“beloved”
Original form as a personal name.
- Septuagint Greek
Δαυίδ (Dauid)
“David”
Transliteration into Greek.
- Vulgate Latin
David
“David”
Latinized form maintained in European languages.
- Middle English
David
“David”
Standardized usage in the British Isles.
Connections
Word parts
Dwd
root
beloved
Related across languages
Welsh
Dewi
David
French
David
Arabic
Dawud
David
Explore next
Related to David
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.