Davy is a boy's name of Welsh origin that means "beloved". It was brought into prominence in the late 19th century by the famous Welsh poet David Garrick, who was known for his humorous plays and Shakespearean adaptations. Davy is often used as a pet form of the name David, which has been popular throughout history due to its biblical roots. In the Bible, David was a shepherd boy who grew up to become King of Israel. Throughout history, many notable figures have carried this name, including Davy Crockett, the American frontiersman and folk hero, and Davy Jones, the lead singer of The Monkees. Despite its popularity in the past, Davy is now considered quite uncommon as a given name.
The name Davy has seen a varied trend in popularity over the past four decades in the United States. In the early 1980s, it was relatively uncommon, with only 7 births recorded in 1982 and 8 in 1983. However, there was a noticeable increase in its usage from the late 1980s onwards.
Between 1986 and 1995, the number of newborn boys named Davy fluctuated between 5 and 9 per year, with a peak of 9 births in 1994. The name's popularity seemed to stabilize during this period, indicating that it had gained some traction among parents.
In the early 2000s, there was another resurgence in the usage of the name Davy. After a low point of just 5 births in 2005, the number of newborn boys named Davy started to rise again, reaching double digits in 2012 (10 births) and continuing that trend into the next decade.
The most significant increase in popularity for the name Davy occurred in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Between 2018 and 2023, there were more than 20 births per year, with a remarkable peak of 33 births recorded in 2021 – the highest number since these records began.
Overall, throughout this period, there have been a total of 285 boys named Davy born in the United States. While the name's popularity has ebbed and flowed over the years, its resurgence in recent times suggests that it continues to appeal to parents seeking unique and distinctive names for their sons.