Dave — Dog Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
Dave (DAYV), 1 syllable — A common diminutive of David, meaning 'beloved'.. Verified by the Pets In The City editorial team, with real popularity data from our Auckland community.
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What does Dave mean?
Modern: A common diminutive of David, meaning 'beloved'.. Dave is a common diminutive of the name David, which is of Hebrew origin meaning 'beloved'.
Our editors checked this meaning before publishing. Names with several genuine origins are shown as separate senses rather than a single claim.
Is Dave a good dog name?
Dave has not been formally rated for calling yet. As a rule of thumb, one or two clear syllables work best for recall. With 1 syllable, it is quick to say — a practical length for recall.
Before you commit, say it out loud a few times and check it does not clash with a household name or a training cue like "sit" or "no".
Dave popularity in the Pets In The City community
Dave ranks #118 all-time in the Pets In The City community, carried by about 0.3 in every 1,000 dogs we care for (10 dogs). Its recent trend is insufficient data.
Popularity comes from anonymised, aggregated records of dogs at our 5 Auckland centres, as of 2026-08-01. It reflects our community, not a national census.
What kind of dog does Dave suit?
It suits any dog — it is used across the board in our community. Owners often pick Dave for its modern, human name feel. Treat these as suggestions — plenty of dogs happily wear names that break every rule.
Welcome to the Pack, Dave!
Our entirely unscientific pack opinion.
The other pups are wagging their tails, wondering if Dave will be as beloved as his name suggests. They just hope he doesn’t insist on being called ‘Sir Dave’ during fetch!
Names similar to Dave
- Abe — A diminutive of Abraham, meaning 'father of many'.
- Addie — Diminutive of Adelaide, meaning 'noble kind'.
- Aide — A person who helps or assists another.
- Aiya — A name of Japanese origin meaning 'love' or 'affection'.
- Alee — A variant of the name Ali, meaning 'exalted.'
- Amiee — A variant of the name Amy, meaning 'beloved.'
- Anslie — A variant of the name Ainsley, meaning 'one's own meadow'.
- Arlee — Variant of the name Arley, meaning 'hare meadow'.
Collections featuring Dave
See all curated collections.
Like Dave? Find names that fit your dog
The Dog Name Matchmaker learns your taste and picks eight names that suit your dog's character — each with a reason it fits.
Naming a new puppy?
A great name is step one. Step two is a great start: our force-free puppy training classes build confidence and recall (that new name gets a workout). New to Pets In The City? Register your dog for a temperament assessment and meet the pack.
By the numbers
- 1 syllable — quick to call
- Ranked #118 of all names in our Auckland community
- About 0.3 in every 1,000 PITC dogs are called Dave
- Meaning and pronunciation verified by our editors
- Data from 5 Auckland Pets In The City centres
Find names like Dave Browse all names A–Z
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