Etymology of the Name David: A Semitic and Slavic Onomastic Interface

Abstract The personal name David (Hebrew: דָּוִד, Dāwīḏ) represents a paradigmatic case of lexical stability within the context of cross-linguistic transmission between Semitic and Indo-European languages. Traditionally derived from the Semitic triliteral root d-w-d, conveying meanings such as “beloved” or “object of affection,” the name exhibits an exceptional degree of phonological, morphological, and semantic continuity across diverse linguistic systems, including Greek, Latin, and Slavic languages. This study provides a philologically grounded and theoretically expanded analysis of the name David, integrating data from Biblical Hebrew morphology, historical phonology, and Slavic onomastic patterns. Particular attention is devoted to the limits of phonological adaptation in cases where lexical items are embedded within canonical textual traditions. Through a detailed comparative framework, the paper demonstrates that traditional models of loanword adaptation, which prioritize phonological compatibility and articulatory constraints, fail to account for the observed stability of this anthroponym. The study introduces a set of interrelated theoretical concepts—protected anthroponyms, sacred lexical stabilization, semantic anchoring, and canonical resistance to linguistic drift—as a comprehensive explanatory model. It is argued that the stability of the name David emerges not from internal linguistic structure alone, but from the interaction of linguistic, textual, and cultural factors operating within a canonically regulated environment. By situating the analysis at the intersection of linguistics, philology, and cultural transmission, this paper contributes to a broader redefinition of onomastic theory and advances a generalizable framework for understanding lexical persistence in historically and culturally significant names.