Blake
Blake originated as an English surname with dual meanings: derived from Old English 'blac' meaning 'black' or 'dark,' or paradoxically from 'blaac' meaning 'pale' or 'fair.' It evolved from a descriptive nickname for someone with notably dark or light features and became a popular given name in the 20th century.
Current Popularity
Popularity over time
Dashed bar: 2026 (projected): 983. How this is calculated
Yearly values
- 2011: 5,617
- 2012: 6,047
- 2013: 5,649
- 2014: 4,948
- 2015: 4,234
- 2016: 3,290
- 2017: 2,626
- 2018: 2,466
- 2019: 2,141
- 2020: 1,815
- 2021: 1,850
- 2022: 1,581
- 2023: 1,374
- 2024: 1,321
- 2025: 1,080
- 2026 (projected): 983
Good to Know
- •Easy to spell and pronounce across different cultures
- •Works well as both first and middle name
- •Gender-neutral but more commonly used for boys
- •Short, one-syllable name that pairs well with longer surnames
Similar Names
Famous People
Blake Shelton
Country music singer and television personality
Blake Lively
Actress (note: female, but shares the name)
Blake Griffin
Professional basketball player
William Blake
Renowned English poet and artist
Statistics
186,558
Total births since 1880
2012
Peak year
Discovery
Keep browsing
Rising now
Browse trending names
Names that climbed the most between 2020 and 2025.
Always popular
Explore timeless classics
Names that have sat in the top 50 for decades.
For this gender
See all-time favorites
The most common names since 1880, by total births.
Stories
Read famous-name profiles
How well-known people changed the names they carried.
Guides
Browse recent articles
Recent articles on naming trends.