Davina is a name of Hebrew origin that means "beloved." It is derived from the Hebrew word "dod," which means "beloved" or "dear." The name Davina has been used historically among Jews and in various cultures, including Scottish and Irish.
The name Davina was first recorded in Scotland in the 12th century. In Scotland, it is often associated with the Clan Davidson, a Highland clan that traces its ancestry back to King Malcolm III of Scotland. The Clan Davidson takes its name from the Davidian line of Scottish kings, which included Malcolm III and his son, Duncan I.
Davina was also used in Ireland as an anglicized form of the Irish name "Dubhán," which means "dark-haired" or "black." This usage is likely due to Irish immigration to Scotland and the influence of Gaelic culture on Scottish society during the medieval period.
The popularity of the name Davina has varied over time and across different cultures. In recent years, it has gained some popularity in English-speaking countries such as the United States and Australia. According to data from the Social Security Administration, Davina was given to fewer than five girls each year in the United States between 2000 and 2019.
Overall, Davina is a name of Hebrew origin that means "beloved." It has historical ties to Scotland and Ireland and has been used by various cultures throughout history. Despite its relatively low popularity today, Davina remains a unique and meaningful name option for parents looking for something different.
The name Davina has a fascinating history of popularity and usage in the United States over the past century. According to the statistics provided, Davina's popularity has fluctuated significantly over time.
From 1916 to 1945, there were fewer than 20 births per year with the name Davina, with numbers ranging from a low of 5 births in several years up to a high of 9 births in 1943. This suggests that Davina was relatively uncommon during this period.
However, starting in the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s, there was a noticeable increase in popularity for the name Davina. During this decade alone, there were over 20 births per year on average, with peaks of 21 births in 1956 and 29 births in 1962. This indicates that Davina began to gain traction as a popular girls' name during this era.
The trend continued into the 1960s and 1970s, with Davina maintaining consistent popularity throughout these decades. There were over 150 births per year on average from 1963 to 1980, with peaks reaching as high as 201 births in 1979. This period marked the heyday of Davina's popularity in the United States.
Despite this strong showing, Davina's popularity began to wane in the late 1980s and into the 1990s, with fewer than 150 births per year on average during these decades. However, starting around the year 2000, there was a noticeable resurgence in Davina's popularity.
Since then, Davina has seen consistent growth in popularity, with over 400 births per year recorded since 2017. The highest number of births recorded for Davina in recent years was 539 in 2022. As of the most recent data available, there have been a total of 10,556 births with the name Davina in the United States over the past century.
In conclusion, while Davina's popularity has ebbed and flowed over time, it has remained a relatively uncommon yet distinctive girls' name throughout much of American history. Its recent resurgence in popularity suggests that Davina continues to hold appeal as a unique and memorable choice for parents seeking a special name for their daughters.