Dov
Meaningbear · Hebrew
- US rank
- #1,451
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #1,228 in 2022
123 babies were named Dov in the US in 2025. It has climbed 27 places in five years.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1949–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Dov you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 13,889 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Dov, 123 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Dov would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryDov first shows up in US birth records in 1949, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 76 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 2022, when it reached #1,228.
- Then vs nowDov is 3.1× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 43,668 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 13,889.
- TrendDov has climbed 27 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #1,451. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedDov is most popular in New York, where it ranks #248, followed by New Jersey (#355). It's in the top 1,000 in 2 states.
- MeaningIn Hebrew, Dov means “bear”.
About the name Dov
Dov is a boy name of Hebrew origin meaning “bear”. It has 3 letters and 1 syllable, starting with D and ending in “-dov”. US birth records list Dov for boys from 1949 to 2025, in 75 of those 77 years. Its best year was 2022, when it ranked #1,228 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #1,451, with 123 babies.
Origin:Hebrew names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 5.1 | 196,078 boys |
| 1950s | 4.5 | 222,222 boys |
| 1960s | 6.4 | 156,740 boys |
| 1970s | 15 | 68,027 boys |
| 1980s | 16 | 62,035 boys |
| 1990s | 18 | 56,721 boys |
| 2000s | 30 | 33,058 boys |
| 2010s | 58 | 17,376 boys |
| 2020s | 80 | 12,479 boys |
More Hebrew boy names
- Unisex name: Noah · rest, comfort
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: Elijah · my God is Yahweh
- Boy name: Mateo · gift of God
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Levi · joined, attached
- Unisex name: Elias · my God is Yahweh
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
Questions about the name Dov
What does the name Dov mean?
Dov means “bear” in Hebrew.
What is the origin of the name Dov?
Dov has Hebrew roots in our records. Other Hebrew names include Noah, James, Elijah.
Is Dov a boy or girl name?
Dov is a boy name.
How popular is the name Dov?
Dov ranked #1,451 for US boys in 2025, given to 123 babies. Its best year was 2022 (#1,228).