Given name & surname
Davina
“the beloved one”·“Beloved”·“darling”
In English use, Davina is a feminine form of David. “Beloved” or “darling” is a traditional interpretation. The original linguistic explanation is less certain than that familiar meaning may suggest.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Scottish use, Davina carries the interpretation “the beloved one.” In English use, Davina is a feminine form of David. “Beloved” or “darling” is a traditional interpretation. The original linguistic explanation is less certain than that familiar meaning may suggest.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Scottish.
How it developed
Davina is used as a feminine counterpart of David. In English use, Davina is a feminine form of David. The shared background comes through David: One explanation connects David with a Hebrew nursery word meaning “darling.” This remains a proposed derivation rather than an established breakdown into separate elements.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1916. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Davina is a feminine form of David. The history of David gives this family its wider story. The biblical David is remembered as the young challenger of Goliath and later king of Israel. In Britain, the patron saint of Wales and two medieval Scottish kings gave the name further local associations.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Davina through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 11,380
- 0 boys · 11,380 girls
- Most popular year
- 2022
- 541 babies
- 2025
- 363
- #749 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +28%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 363 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 749 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 28.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (51). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 7,440 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Davina’s family of names
In English usage, Davina is a feminine form of David. Davina has a related form in Davin. In German usage, Davina has a related form in Davida.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 24
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Davina
- Lady Davina Windsornoblewoman; elder daughter of Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucesterborn 1977
- Davina McCallEnglish television presenterborn 1967
- Davina WaddyNew Zealand rowerborn 1996
- Davina PhiltjensBelgian association football playerborn 1989
- Davina MichelFrench boxerborn 1997
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Davina, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Davie
“Beloved” · “darling”
17% boys · 83% girls
Dawkin
“a spirited man” · “Beloved”
—
Ealasaid
“one who is devoted to God”
>99% girls
Zara
“princess”
>99% girls
Elisa
“my God is bountiful” · “God is my oath”
>99% girls
Kendall
“from the royal valley”
15% boys · 85% girls
Vika
“from the creek”
>99% girls
Lizzy
“God is my oath” · “My God is bountiful”
>99% girls