NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Davinia

A feminine name of Latin origin meaning "little gift from heaven".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Davinia is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Davinia popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4764, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 8 births.

This profile covers 48 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 1997 to 2011. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 48 living people in the UK are called Davinia. 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 2012 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Davinia ranked #4764 for girls in England and Wales in 2011, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2000, when 8 girls were registered as Davinia.
  • About 48 living people in the UK are estimated to have Davinia as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4764

2011

Births in 2011

4

Latest year

Peak year

2000

8 births

Estimated living

48

2026

Meaning

What does Davinia mean?

The name Davinia is derived from the Hebrew name David, which means "beloved". It is a feminine form of the male name David, which has its roots in ancient Hebrew culture and the biblical texts of the Old Testament.

The first recorded use of the name Davinia dates back to the 16th century in Scotland, where it was likely a variant spelling or adaptation of the more common name Davina. It is believed to have been influenced by the Gaelic language and possibly related to the word "dave", which means "beloved" or "dear one".

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Davinia was Davinia Milton, a Scottish writer and poet who lived in the late 16th century. She is known for her collection of poems titled "The Lament of a Sinner", published in 1597.

In the 17th century, Davinia Stewart was a notable figure in Scottish history. She was a noblewoman and the daughter of Walter Stewart, Earl of Galloway. Davinia Stewart was born in 1635 and played a role in the political and religious conflicts of her time.

During the 18th century, Davinia Wentworth was a prominent English writer and social reformer. Born in 1738, she was an advocate for women's education and wrote several influential works on the subject, including "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" published in 1792.

In the 19th century, Davinia Cadwalader was a Welsh artist and painter known for her landscapes and portraits. She was born in 1812 and her works were exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in London.

Another notable Davinia from the 19th century was Davinia Thornton, an English philanthropist and social activist. Born in 1845, she dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the poor and working-class families in London.

While the name Davinia has its roots in ancient Hebrew culture and was used sporadically throughout history, it gained more popularity in the 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries. However, the earliest recorded examples and notable individuals with this name provide a glimpse into its rich historical significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Davinia over time

The chart below shows babies named Davinia registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2011. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Davinia, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2011, compared with 8 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Davinia
02468199720042011

Decades

Davinia by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Davinia 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
2010s #5236 7 2
2000s #4170 26 6
1990s #2918 15 3

Related

Names similar to Davinia

FAQ

Davinia: questions and answers

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

In 2011, Davinia was ranked #4764 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Davinia most popular?

The peak year on record was 2000, with 8 babies registered as Davinia in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Davinia?

A feminine name of Latin origin meaning "little gift from heaven".

How many people are called Davinia in the UK?

A total of 48 babies have been registered as Davinia across the 11 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.