Given name & surname
Dove
“resembling a bird of peace”·“a peaceful man”
Dove is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “resembling a bird of peace” (American) and “a peaceful man” (American). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “resembling a bird of peace” (American) and “a peaceful man” (American). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is American.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Dove through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,473
- 37 boys · 1,436 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 144 babies
- 2025
- 144
- #1,487 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +249%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 144 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,487 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 239.6% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (15). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 726 as a first name in 2020; 13,918 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Dove’s family of names
Dove has a related form in Dovie. Dove has a related form in Dovey. Dove has a related form in Dovi.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Dove
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Dove, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Clover
“resembling the meadow flower”
2% boys · 98% girls
Hartley
“a warmhearted woman” · “from the stag's meadow”
15% boys · 85% girls
Hallie
“from the hall” · “woman of the sea”
>99% girls
Poppy
“resembling the red flower”
>99% girls
Winter
“born during the winter season”
6% boys · 94% girls
Wren
“resembling a small songbird”
13% boys · 87% girls
Lemon
“resembling the fruit”
>99% girls
Ivy
“resembling the evergreen vining plant”
>99% girls