Dov
Dov is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Bear.
Origin and history
Dov is a traditional Hebrew masculine name that directly translates to 'bear'. It has long been used in Jewish communities, often paired as Dov-Ber, and has seen steady use in the United States. Its recent usage reflects a consistent preference for short, meaningful traditional names.
Popularity in the United States
3,623 babies in the United States have been named Dov since 1880. It ranks #2128 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1170.
States where it is most popular
- NY (71 %)
- NJ (25.1 %)
- CA (2.7 %)
- FL (0.48 %)
- MD (0.34 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 9 |
| 1950-1960 | 94 |
| 1960-1970 | 123 |
| 1970-1980 | 242 |
| 1980-1990 | 297 |
| 1990-2000 | 343 |
| 2000-2010 | 605 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,079 |
| 2020-2029 | 831 |
Famous people named Dov
- Dov Charney: Entrepreneur, Businessman
- Dov Zakheim: Government Official, Economist
Fun facts
- In Ashkenazi Jewish tradition, Dov (Hebrew for bear) was frequently paired with the Yiddish equivalent 'Ber' to form the compound name Dov-Ber.
- Over 20% of all U.S. recorded births for the name Dov since 1880 have occurred between 2020 and 2025.