David or Dave Nelson may refer to:
Academia David Nelson (abolitionist) (1793–1844), founder of Marion College and Mission Institute, Presbyterian minister David Robert Nelson (born 1951), American physicist, professor of biophysics at Harvard University David L. Nelson (born 1956), American human geneticist David Nelson (mathematician) (born 1938), English mathematician
Arts and entertainment Dave Nelson (trumpeter) (1905–1946), American jazz trumpeter David Nelson (musician) (born 1943), American guitarist David Nelson (actor) (1936–2011), American actor, director, and producer David Nelson, member of The Last Poets Dave Nelson, guitarist with Nektar Dave Nelson, character on the sitcom NewsRadio played by Dave Foley
Law and politics David Aldrich Nelson (1932–2010), United States federal judge David Sutherland Nelson (1933–1998), United States federal judge David Nelson (Alaska politician) (born 1996), Alaska state representative David Nelson (Oregon politician) (born 1941), Oregon state senator David Nelson (Idaho politician), Idaho state senator David R. Nelson (politician) (born 1942), Massachusetts state representative David D. Nelson (born 1956), United States ambassador to Uruguay, 2009–2011 David Nelson (Utah activist) (born 1962), American activist for the protection of equal rights for LGBT people
Sports Dave Nelson (1944–2018), American baseball player and sportscaster Dave Nelson (Australian footballer) (1910–1986), Australian rules footballer Dave Nelson (basketball) (born 1956), American basketball player Dave Nelson (curler) (born 1974), American curler David M. Nelson (1920–1991), American football coach David Nelson (footballer) (1918–1988), Scottish professional footballer David Nelson (gamer) (born 1974), American electronic sports player David Nelson (hurdler) (born 1967), British athlete and medallist in athletics at the 1990 Commonwealth Games David Nelson (rugby league) (1962–2001), English rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s David Nelson (running back) (born 1963), American football running back David Nelson (wide receiver) (born 1986), American football wide receiver
Other David Nelson (botanical collector) (died 1789), British botanical collector, crew member of HMS Bounty David Nelson (VC) (1886–1918), Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross David Nelson (software developer) (born 1993), American software developer David Nelson, inventor of the current-feedback operational amplifier David Nelson (engineer), Australian Formula One engineer
See also David Stergakos (David Nelson Stergakos, born 1956), Greek-American basketball player