Dave is a given name, often a shortened form of the names David, Davey, or others. The name means "beloved".
Notable people with the name include:
People Dave (American rapper), aka David Jolicoeur (1968–2023), of the hip hop group De La Soul Dave (artist) (born 1969), Swiss artist, born David Pflugi Dave (rapper) (born 1998), English rapper, born David Omoregie Dave (singer) (born 1944), Dutch-born French singer, born Wouter Otto Levenbach Dave Adolph (1937–2017), American football coach Dave Allen (comedian) (1936–2005), Irish comedian Dave Atkins (disambiguation), multiple people Dave Bailey (musician) (1926–2023), American jazz drummer Dave Bailey (runner), Canadian track and field athlete, later a pharmacologist Dave Bancroft (1891–1972), American baseball player and manager Dave Barker, professional name of Jamaican musician David Crooks Dave Barney, American educator and swimming coach Dave Barry, American comedian and humor author Dave Bautista, American actor and former professional wrestler Dave Bayley, British songwriter, singer and producer Dave Billes (1938–2024), Canadian racing driver Dave Bristol (born 1933), American baseball manager Dave Brown (disambiguation), multiple people Dave Brubeck (1920–2012), American jazz musician Dave Boat, American voice actor Dave Burba (born 1966), American baseball player Dave Butterfield (born 1954), American football player Dave Butz (1950–2022), American football player Dave Campo (born 1947), American football coach Dave Canales (born 1981), American football coach Dave Chappelle, American stand-up comedian, satirist and actor Dave Chisnall, English darts player Dave Clark (disambiguation), multiple people Dave Colclough, Welsh professional poker player Dave Concepción (born 1948), Venezuelan baseball player Dave Coulier, American stand-up comedian and television/voice actor Dave Coursol (born 1994), Canadian racing driver Dave Cousins (1945–2025), English musician, leader, singer and songwriter of "Strawbs" Dave Dalby (1950–2002), American football player Dave Dravecky (born 1956), American baseball player and motivational speaker Dave Edwards (disambiguation), multiple people Dave Finlay Sr. (born 1936), Northern Irish professional wrestler Dave 'Fit' Finlay (born 1958), Northern Irish professional wrestler Dave Flint (born 1971), American ice hockey coach Dave Foggin, member of the West Virginia House of Delegates Dave Foutz (1856–1897), American baseball player and manager Dave Franco, American television and film actor Dave Frederick, American sportswriter and coach Dave Freeman (American author) (1961–2008), American author Dave Freeman (British writer), British film and television writer Dave Gahan, English singer Dave Garcia (1920–2018), American baseball manager Dave Garnett (born 1970), American football player Dave Gerlach (1940–2020), Canadian curler Dave Gettleman (born 1951), American football executive Dave Gibbons, British writer and artist of comics Dave Goelz, American puppeteer known for playing Gonzo on The Muppets Dave Gorman, English stand-up comedian, best known for his project Are You Dave Gorman? Dave Grayson (1939–2017), American football player Dave Grohl, American rock musician and member of Nirvana and the Foo Fighters Dave Guard (1934–1991), American folk singer and songwriter, founding member of The Kingston Trio Dave Hanner (1930–2008), American football player and coach Dave Henderson (1958–2015), American baseball player Dave Houpapa (born 1981), New Zealand cricketer Dave Hoyda (1957–2015), Canadian ice hockey player Dave Huismans (born 1979), Dutch musician known professionally as 2562 Dave James (racing driver) (1928–1987), American racing driver Dave Kaye (1906–1996), British pianist Dave Keuning, American rock musician and member of The Killers Dave Kingman (born 1948), American baseball player Dave Koz, American jazz saxophonist Dave Krieg (born 1958), American football player Dave Lombardo, drummer for heavy metal bands Slayer and Fantômas Dave Lutz (born 1959), American football player Dave Mackintosh, drummer for power metal band DragonForce Dave Magadan (born 1962), American baseball player Dave Malarcher (1894–1982), American baseball player and manager Dave Marshall (musician), American guitarist Dave Martinez (born 1964), American baseball player and manager Dave Matthews, American jam musician Dave McCormick (born 1965), American politician and businessman Dave McCurry (1951–2020), American football player Dave McGinnis (born 1951), American football coach and broadcaster Dave Means (born 1952), American football player Dave Meyers (basketball) (1953–2015), American basketball player Dave Miley (born 1962), American baseball manager Dave Minor (1922–1998), American basketball player Dave Murray (musician), guitarist for heavy metal band Iron Maiden Dave Mustaine, singer/guitarist/founder of American heavy metal band Megadeth Dave Myers (American football) (1906–1997), American football player Dave Myers (baseball) (born 1959), American baseball player, manager and scout Dave Myers (presenter) (1957–2024), English television presenter and chef Dave Newhouse (born 1953), American musician Dave Nilsson (born 1969), Australian baseball player and manager Dave Orr (1859–1915), American baseball player Dave Parker (disambiguation), multiple people Dave Parker (1951–2025), American baseball player Dave Parkin (born 1956), American football player Dave Polsky, American television screenwriter Dave Portnoy (born 1977), American businessman and social media personality Dave Ragone (born 1979), American football player and coach Dave Ramsey, American personal finance advisor, radio show host, author, and businessman Dave Roberts (disambiguation), multiple people Dave Robinson (disambiguation), multiple people Dave Rozumek, American football player Dave Rubin (born 1976), American political commentator, YouTube personality, and talk show host Dave Saunders (volleyball) (born 1960), American volleyball player Dave Severin, American politician Dave Shimizu, Guamanian politician Dave Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people Dave Stieb (born 1957), American baseball player Dave Szott (born 1967), American football player Dave Thomas (businessman) (1932–2002), American businessman, founder of Wendy's Dave Tucker (geologist), American geologist and IWW leader Dave Ulliott, English professional poker player Dave Yaras, American mobster Dave Valentin (1952–2017), American Latin jazz flautist Dave Green (born 1983), American film and music video director Dave Van Horn, American head baseball coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks Dave Walker (born 1945), British musician Dave Wannstedt (born 1952), American football coach Dave Waymer (1958–1993), American football player Dave Weckl, American drummer Dave Welch (poker player), English professional poker player Dave Whatley (1927–2015), American street performer and local celebrity, better known as Dancin' Dave Dave Whinham (born 1957), American football coach Dave Winfield (born 1951), American baseball player Dave Winfield (footballer) (born 1988), English footballer Dave Wommack (born 1956), American football coach Dave Ziegler (born 1977), American football executive
Fictional characters Dave (EastEnders), from the British soap opera EastEnders D.A.V.E., from The Batman television series David Bowman (Space Odyssey), in the book and movie 2001: A Space Odyssey Dave Lister, from the BBC comedy series Red Dwarf David "Dave" Lizewski, the title character and the protagonist of the Kick-Ass series Dave Turner, in the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation Dave Seville, a character from Alvin and the Chipmunk The title character of Dangerous Dave, a computer game by John Romero The title character of Dave the Barbarian, a Disney Channel cartoon series Dave Grant, a father character from Disney Channel series Hamster & Gretel The title character of the indie video game Dave the Diver The title character of Meet Dave, a 2008 comedy film starring Eddie Murphy Super Dave Osborne, fictional stuntman Dave Derryberry, a twin brother character from Camp Lazlo Dave Strider, a character from a web comic Homestuck
See also Dav Pilkey Davey (given name) David (name) Davidson (name)