David in Chinese
David in Chinese is 大卫 (Dà Wèi).
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Meaning
- beloved
Etymologically, David is Hebrew and is commonly glossed as "beloved". It has been in continuous US use since Social Security records begin in 1880, peaking in the 1950s. Names sharing the same root meaning include Amy, Molly.
3 ways to write David
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
大卫
Dà Wèi
The standard transliteration of David: 大 (dà, "big, great"), 卫 (wèi, "to guard, defend"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
Syllable by syllable: 大 (dà) carries "da", 卫 (wèi) carries "vid". The tone contour is 4-4 (falling, falling).
Character breakdown
6 strokes total (simplified)- 大
dà
Tone 4 · 3 strokes (simplified)
big, great
- 卫
wèi
Tone 4 · 3 strokes (simplified)
to guard, defend
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Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
嘉乐
Jiā Lè
Inspired by "beloved": 嘉 (jiā, "excellent, praiseworthy") + 乐 (lè, "joy, happiness; music"), expressing love, joy and blessings.
Why these characters?
Because David is linked to "beloved", the name leads with 嘉 (excellent, praiseworthy); 乐 (joy, happiness; music) gives it a natural given-name finish.
Character breakdown
19 strokes total (simplified)- 嘉
jiā
Tone 1 · 14 strokes (simplified)
excellent, praiseworthy
- 乐
lè
Tone 4 · 5 strokes (simplified)
joy, happiness; music
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
达乐
Dá Lè
达 (dá, "to reach, attain") + 乐 (lè, "joy, happiness; music"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
达 (dá) sounds close to the opening "da" of David (compare 大 dà) but means "to reach, attain"; 乐 adds "joy, happiness; music".
Character breakdown
12 strokes total (simplified)- 达
dá
Tone 2 · 7 strokes (simplified)
to reach, attain
- 乐
lè
Tone 4 · 5 strokes (simplified)
joy, happiness; music
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Stroke order
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Recent US usage of David
In the Social Security Administration’s 2020–2025 snapshot, David ranked 29 among names recorded for boys, with 45,615 registrations in that group across the period. These are US birth-name records, rather than search counts or a ranking of Chinese names. The period covers part of a decade; it is not a final ranking for the whole 2020s.
Compare the dated figures in the SSA’s official 2020s name table. This snapshot was checked on 2026-10-15; any historical figures on this page describe their own stated period.
Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 3,611,329 boys named David since 1880, with the high point in 1955 (86,251 births) and the busiest decade being the 1950s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #6 to #23 among boys.
- Peak year
- 1955
- Peak decade
- 1950s
- First year
- 1880
- Total since 1880
- 3,611,329
More About David in Chinese
The Chinese translation of David offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of David, you'll find options that work for you.
Names with the same root meaning include Amy in Chinese, and Molly in Chinese, which share similar origins or meanings.
If you're exploring Chinese names for boys, you might also be interested in Amy in Chinese, Molly in Chinese, and Michael in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Christopher in Chinese, Matthew in Chinese, Joshua in Chinese, Daniel in Chinese, and James in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for David, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like David to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write David in Chinese?
大卫 (Dà Wèi), or 大衛 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
Is David written differently in traditional Chinese?
Yes: 大卫 becomes 大衛; the changed characters are 卫→衛. Use traditional for Taiwan or Hong Kong audiences.
Is there a Chinese name for David with real meaning?
Try 嘉乐 (Jiā Lè): excellent, praiseworthy + joy, happiness; music, inspired by "beloved". For something that still sounds like David, 达乐 (Dá Lè) is a middle ground.