Fun Facts About the Name Dub
- 128 babies named Dub: U.S. records list 128 babies given the name Dub from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Dub Mean?
Dub is an English spelling of the Irish name Dubh, which comes from the Old Irish word dub, meaning "black" or "dark." The name was originally descriptive, referring to dark hair, a dark complexion, or simply the color black. It is not a symbolic or spiritual meaning but a literal one. The Irish form Dubh is pronounced differently, roughly "doov" or "doo," while the anglicized Dub follows English spelling and pronunciation.
Dub Name History & Origins
In medieval Ireland and Gaelic Scotland, Dubh was a common personal name and byname. A documented early bearer is Dub mac Maíl Choluim, who was king of Alba from 962 to 967; his name is sometimes anglicized as Dub or Duff. The element dubh also appears in compound names such as Dubhghall, formed from dubh "dark" and gall "stranger" or "foreigner," a term used for Norse-Gaels. That compound contributed to surnames including Dougall and MacDougall, but the standalone name Dub is not simply a shortened form of it.
The spelling Dub is an anglicization of Dubh. As a given name in English, it has remained uncommon. In the United States, Dub has also been used as a nickname for a person whose name begins with W, from the pronunciation of the letter W as "double-u" (shortened to "Dub"). This nickname use is a separate development and is not related to the Irish name. The English verb dub, meaning to knight or to name, comes from Old English dubbian and is likewise unrelated.
How Popular is the Name Dub?
Dub has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1957. Its best rank was #2,529 in 1957.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | #3,664 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1964 | #4,213 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1962 | #4,223 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1961 | #3,445 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1960 | #3,429 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #4,151 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1957 | #2,529 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1956 | #4,098 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1955 | #3,604 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1954 | #3,975 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1952 | #3,174 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #2,836 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1948 | #3,815 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1947 | #3,463 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1943 | #3,680 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1935 | #3,356 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1933 | #3,790 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1930 | #3,377 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1926 | #3,831 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1925 | #3,857 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1917 | #4,141 | 5 | 0.0005% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with D
Short Boy Names That Start with D
How the Name Dub Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are strong in material matters, determined and stubborn. You have good business ability. You are a good worker, steady and practical, a builder who takes responsibility well. These qualities may bring you a position of authority and power. You are a doer, down-to-earth, serious-minded, reliable, and self-disciplined; have good power of concentration. Emergencies may raise your intuitive abilities in order to resolve conflict or situation. You become very creative under the pressure, and have quite original ideas to make the best out of it.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Dub's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Dub's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.