From King David to David Beckham: A Look at 15 Famous Davids Throughout History

From King David to David Beckham: A Look at 15 Famous Davids Throughout History

The name David can be traced from way back in the historic biblical narrative to the current world. David is a name given to male children. There are several people who were given the name David and did great things in the past, as well as in the current world.

King David is the first person who comes to the minds of many when you ask about any David. He rose to prominence after slaying Goliath using a stone. The young herder was later anointed and became the second Israelite king.

The current world has also seen several individuals known as David who has left a mark on many lives. One of the top Davids is a famous English international player who played for Manchester United and other top teams. There are several other Davids in the entertainment and other sectors.

Here are the 15 Famous Davids Throughout History:

1. King David

Gerard van Honthorst, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

David was the second king of the United Kingdom of Israel who according to the Hebrew Bible, came from being a peasant boy to the chosen one. It is believed by Historians of the Ancient Near East that King David probably lived around 1000 BCE. The narrative of the Books of Samuel state that David was a herder of his father’s flock while some of his brothers were soldiers in King Saul’s army.

King Saul never had a courageous soldier to face off against Goliath, a giant soldier of the Philistines. The young herder, David, came forward with his slingshot and used one stone to kill Goliath. After the death of King Saul, David took to the realm and became King. David conquered Jerusalem and made it the capital of Israel and brought the Ark of the Covenant to the city. Even though he was a great man in the eyes of God, David committed several atrocities that were not good.

Read 15 Famous People With the Name Thomas.

2. David Bowie

Photographer: Photobra|Adam Bielawski, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

David Robert Jones, who was famously known by his stage name David Bowie, was an English singer, songwriter, and actor. In the 20th century, David Bowie is regarded as one of the most influential musicians.

David got numerous praise due to his impressive musical work in the 1970s. Both his critics and major musicians praised him. His hard work and willingness to embrace reinvention in visual presentation made him a top artist.

David had a successful career in which he won multiple awards and got numerous nominations. Unfortunately, he died of liver cancer on 10^th January 2016 in his New York City apartment. His death came 18 months after his cancer diagnosis.

3. David Chappelle

Born on 24^th August 1973, David Khari Webber Chappelle is a famous American stand-up comedian and actor. The satirical comedy sketch series, Chappelle’s Show (2003-2006), made David more prominent in the world. He starred in the series up to when he quit during the third season.

His quitting was due to a hiatus which made David make a return to the US and started stand-up comedy shows. David came to be known as the comic genius of America by 2006. In 2013, he was known as the best by a Billboard writer, and in 2017, he was ranked position 9 in the 50 best Stand Up Comics of All Times by Rolling Stone.

4. David Schwimmer

Philippe Berdalle, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

David Lawrence Schwimmer, 57, is a famous American producer, director, and actor. The sitcom Friends where he portrayed Ross Geller made David Schwimmer rise to stardom. He got a Screen Actors Guild Award.

David also got the Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his Outstanding Supporting role in a famous comedy series in 1995. He featured more on several award-winning films over the years. He has won multiple awards as well as he is a major influence on the rising stars in the entertainment industry.

5. David Duchovny

Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Born on 7^th August 1960, David William Duchovny is a celebrated American writer, producer, director, actor, and singer cum songwriter. His role as agent Fox Mulder on The X-Files (1993-2002, 2016-2018) made David rise gradually and became a star. His fame also came as writer Hank Moody on Californication, a television series that aired from 2007 to 2014.

David won Golden Globe awards for the roles he played. The historically-based drama, Aquarius (2015-2016) was executively produced by David in which he also had a starring role.

Also, read 15 Famous People Named Will.

6. David Beckham

Soccer Aid for Unicef, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Another famous David is David Beckham whose full name is David Robert Joseph Beckham OBE who is a former professional football player. He is also the current president and co-owner of American MLS clubs Inter Miami CF and Salford City. His passing range, super-crossing abilities, and bent free-kicks made him known more.

He used to play as a right winger who gained acknowledgment of being one of the greatest and most recognizable midfielders of his generation. Beckham is widely known as one of the best set-pieces takers in football. David Beckham had several achievements for both his clubs and country.

His spell at Manchester United was immense as he was an integral part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s team that won multiple trophies. He also played for top teams like Real Madrid and Paris Saint Germain before he retired. Beckham won league titles in all leagues he played in, Spain, England, France, and the United States. David Beckham was also an important player in the England national team.

7. David Cross

David Cross, 59, is another famous and influential person who is a stand-up comedian, writer, actor, and renowned director. His top performances in Mr. Show, an HBO sketch comedy series (1995-1998) made him famous. His top role as the character Tobias Funke in the Fox/Netflix sitcom Arrested Development that ran from 2003 to 2006, and 2013 to 2019 made him a star.

David Cross also created, wrote, starred and executive produced multiple films too. He is best known for his notable works and roles in Kung Fu Panda, Alvin the Chipmunks, Freak Show, and many more films. He is also a serial award winner and has top nominations.

8. David Hasselhoff

Guinness World Record holder, David Hasselhoff known by his nickname The Hoff is another popular David. He is an actor, television personality, and amicable singer. David rose to prominence through The Young and The Restless film, 1975-1982. His role in this film was as Dr. Snapper Forster. Hasselhoff also featured in several series including Baywatch.

9. David Bautista

Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Born on 18^th January 1969, David Michael Bautista Jr. is a popular American actor and retired professional wrestler. Between 2002 and 2019, Bautista rose to dominance after his stints in WWE.

After retiring from professional wrestling, Bautista began his acting career in which he is most commonly known for portraying Drax the Destroyer. Drax the Destroyer is a character in the Guardians of the Galaxy which has run from 2014 to 2023 Vol. 3.

10. David Abioye

Olatunji Abioye David is a prominent Nigerian preacher as well as a Christian author. In the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Abioye is known to be the first Vice President. He boasts of more than 30,000 congregants in the Living Faith Church, Abuja, where he is the Bishop and Senior Pastor.

11. David Adjey

Known for his appearances on the Food Network Canada show, Restaurant Makeover, David is a renowned Canadian chef. He appeared on the season 7 premiere episode of Iron Chef America which aired on 5^th October 2008.

During this episode, David faced off against Iron Chef Michael Symon with the theme ingredient being sturgeon. The Chickery is a restaurant that was founded by David in May 2012. He is the author of Deconstructing the Dish, a top-selling book in the New York Times.

Read 15 Famous People Named Sam.

12. David Alaba

Harald Bischoff, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Professional soccer player David Olatukunbo Alaba, 31, plays for Spanish giant club Real Madrid. He operates in several positions on the pitch, but he is currently the center-back and sometimes left-back of his club. David Alaba is the captain of the Austria national team.

He is ranked as one of the best defenders in the world due to his versatility, technical skills, and team contribution. His top abilities in being effective in defensive and offensive roles have earned him more praise and recognition in the football world.

13. David Aubry

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Born on 8^th November 1996, David Aubry is a professional French swimmer. In the 2018 European Aquatics Championships, David participated and managed to win a bronze medal. He also qualified to represent France and participate in the 2020 Summer Olympics.

14. David Arenas

31-year-old David Arenas Vanegas is a top Colombian chess grandmaster. In 2010, the grandmaster won the Colombian Chess Championship. He also won the medal again in 2015. In the 2010 Chess Olympiad, David participated in the competition as part of his nation’s team. The International Master title was won by David in 2005, and he also won the 2017 Grandmaster.

15. David Amess

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Born on 26^th March 1952, Sir David Anthony Andrew Amess was a top British politician. Sir David was a member of the parliament for Southend West for 24 years, from 1997 till his death in 2021. He had also served as a legislator of Basildon from 1983 to 1997 before serving for Southend West.

David was a Catholic who had socially conservative political views and favored the move of leaving the European Union. David earned the Knight Bachelor award in 2015. On 15^th October 2021, David got stabbed multiple times at Belfairs Methodist Church Hall, received treatment on the scene, but died after the attack.

Read Top 10 Facts about David Beckham.