NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Davey

A masculine diminutive of David, derived from Hebrew meaning "beloved".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Davey is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Davey popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2088, with 11 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 30 births.

This profile covers 313 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 37% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 311 living people in the UK are called Davey. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Davey ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 11 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2007, when 30 boys were registered as Davey.
  • About 311 living people in the UK are estimated to have Davey as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2088

2024

Births in 2024

11

Latest year

Peak year

2007

30 births

Estimated living

311

2026

Meaning

What does Davey mean?

The name Davey is a diminutive form of the name David, which has its origins in the Hebrew name דָּוִד (Daveed). The name David is derived from the Hebrew root word "dod," meaning "beloved" or "uncle." It gained widespread popularity due to its association with the biblical figure, King David, who ruled over the ancient Kingdom of Israel around 1000 BCE.

The name Davey emerged as a familiar or diminutive form of David, primarily used as a nickname or shortened version of the name. It was commonly used in English-speaking countries and gained popularity as a standalone given name in its own right.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Davey can be found in the medieval English ballad "Davy and Goli," which dates back to the 13th century. This ballad tells the story of a young man named Davy, who embarks on a adventure with his beloved Goli.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Davey. One of the most famous was Davey Crockett (1786-1836), an American folk hero, frontiersman, and politician. He was known for his exploits as a soldier, hunter, and storyteller, and his legendary status has been immortalized in popular culture.

Another notable figure was Davey Graham (1940-2008), a British guitarist and musician who was a pioneering figure in the British folk revival of the 1960s. He was influential in introducing modal and Eastern influences into British folk music and inspired many later musicians.

In the world of sports, Davey Johnson (born 1943) was a renowned American baseball player and manager. He played for several Major League Baseball teams, including the Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies, and later managed teams like the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals.

Davey Moore (1959-1988) was an American professional boxer who held the WBA featherweight title in the mid-1980s. Tragically, he passed away due to injuries sustained during a fight against Sumbu Kalambay in 1988.

Lastly, Davey Wharton (1941-2011) was a South African cricketer who played for the South African national team in the 1960s and early 1970s. He was a talented all-rounder known for his aggressive batting and effective off-spin bowling.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Davey over time

The chart below shows babies named Davey registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Davey, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2024, compared with 30 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Davey
08152330199620102024

Decades

Davey by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Davey was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #2078 32 3
2010s #2238 108 10
2000s #1428 136 10
1990s #1449 37 4

Notable bearers

Famous people named Davey

  • Davey Dixon

    rugby league player

    English rugby league footballer

    1997-

  • Davey Grant

    mixed martial arts fighter

    English mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter

    1985-

  • Davey Lawrence

    ice hockey player

    ice hockey player

    1985-

  • Davey Lambert

    motorcycle racer

    British motorcycle racer

    1969-2017

  • Davey Rimmer

    bassist

    British musician

    1965-

  • Davey Hall

    trade unionist

    British trade unionist

    1951-

  • Davey Pattison

    singer

    Scottish-born American singer

    1945-

  • Davey Payne

    musician

    English saxophonist

    1944-

Related

Names similar to Davey

FAQ

Davey: questions and answers

How popular is the name Davey in the UK right now?

In 2024, Davey was ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales, with 11 births registered.

When was Davey most popular?

The peak year on record was 2007, with 30 babies registered as Davey in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Davey?

A masculine diminutive of David, derived from Hebrew meaning "beloved".

How many people are called Davey in the UK?

A total of 313 babies have been registered as Davey across the 27 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.