The nameBlake
Blake is an English surname that can mean either "black" or "pale". It is used for boys and, more rarely, girls.
- Boy's name
- English
Meaning
Blake comes from the Old English blæc, "black, dark", or blac, "pale, shining".
Origin
English, from a surname.
History
The poet William Blake made the surname famous. As a boy's name Blake was in the American top 100 from 1989 to 2015 and reached 56th place in England and Wales in 2013. The actress Blake Lively helped its use for girls.
Famous people named Blake
- Blake Lively, actress
- Blake Shelton, country singer
- Blake Edwards, film director
Popularity of the name Blake
Blake in the United States
Blake was most popular in the United States in the 2000s, with 51,447 births over the decade, 25% of all recorded babies named Blake. Its rise began around 1977, and it peaked in 2012. Half of all babies named Blake in the United States were born before 2002. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 3,000 births a year on average, against 4,072 in the five years before.
Blake in the United Kingdom
Blake was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 10,570 births over the decade, 52% of all recorded babies named Blake. Half of all babies named Blake in the United Kingdom were born before 2015, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 832 births a year on average, against 980 in the five years before.
Blake in Ireland
Sibling names for Blake
Names from the same generation as Blake, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Blake? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Blake with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Blake side by side with the name of your choice.
Blake in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Blake mean?
Blake comes from the Old English blæc, "black, dark", or blac, "pale, shining".
What is the origin of the name Blake?
English, from a surname.
Is Blake a girl's or a boy's name?
Blake is a boy's name. In the United States, 9% of the babies named Blake are girls.
How popular is the name Blake?
In 2024, Blake was the 265th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 1,311 births.
What are good sibling names for Blake?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Autumn, Molly, Peyton and Summer for a sister, Chase, Hunter, Johnny and Hayden for a brother.
Who are famous people named Blake?
Blake Lively, actress; Blake Shelton, country singer; Blake Edwards, film director.