UK boy's name
Dodi
A given name derived from Arabic meaning "lover" or "beloved one".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1997. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Dodi is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Dodi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1997 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2859, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 1997 to 1997. 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.
Dodi is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Dodi. 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 1998 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Dodi ranked #2859 for boys in England and Wales in 1997, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 3 boys were registered as Dodi.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Dodi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2859
1997
Births in 1997
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Dodi mean?
The name Dodi has its origins in Hebrew and is a diminutive form of the name David. The name David itself is derived from the Hebrew word "dod," meaning "beloved" or "uncle." Dodi is a term of endearment, often used as a pet name or nickname for David.
Historically, the name Dodi can be traced back to the biblical figure King David, who ruled over the united Kingdom of Israel and Judah around 1000 BCE. In the Song of Songs, a book of the Hebrew Bible, the term "dodi" is used as a romantic expression, reflecting the name's connotation of affection and love.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Dodi can be found in the 16th century. Dodi Veneziano (1536-1597) was an Italian Jewish scholar and philosopher who lived in Venice. He is notable for his contributions to the field of Jewish philosophy and his work on the Kabbalah.
Another notable figure with the name Dodi was Dodi Fayed (1955-1997), an Egyptian film producer and heir to the Fayed business empire. He gained international attention due to his romantic relationship with Princess Diana and their tragic deaths in a car accident in Paris in 1997.
In the world of literature, Dodi is the name of a character in the novel "The Betrothed" by Alessandro Manzoni, an influential work of Italian literature published in 1827. The character Dodi represents the embodiment of innocence and simplicity in the story.
One of the earliest recorded musicians with the name Dodi was Dodi Li (born 1925), a Chinese singer and actress who was popular in the 1940s and 1950s. She was renowned for her contribution to the development of Chinese popular music.
Another notable figure was Dodi Goldman (1923-2012), an Israeli sculptor and artist who was known for his monumental public sculptures and his work in exploring the relationship between art and architecture.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Dodi by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Dodi 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | #2859 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Dodi
- Daniel 120,900
- Dylan 60,836
- David 37,852
- Dominic 20,480
- Declan 11,657
- Dexter 11,627
- Danny 8,434
- Dean 5,329
- Dillon 4,113
- Douglas 3,773
- Dominik 3,494
- Damian 3,486
FAQ
Dodi: questions and answers
How popular is the name Dodi in the UK right now?
In 1997, Dodi was ranked #2859 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Dodi most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 3 babies registered as Dodi in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Dodi?
A given name derived from Arabic meaning "lover" or "beloved one".
How many people are called Dodi in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Dodi across the 1 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.