Blake Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: blayk //bleɪk//
Origin: English; Old English
Meaning: Dark; fair
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Blake has its roots in Old English, derived from the word "blæc," meaning "black" or "dark," and "blac," meaning "pale" or "white." This duality in meaning is significant, as it reflects the name's early associations with physical characteristics. The name was used as a surname before it transitioned into a given name, particularly during the Middle Ages in England.
The surname Blake was recorded as early as the 13th century, with notable instances appearing in various historical documents, indicating its established presence in English society. One of the most prominent historical figures associated with the name is the 17th-century poet and artist William Blake, known for his unique contributions to literature and visual arts.
His works, which include "Songs of Innocence and of Experience," published in the late 18th century, have left a lasting impact on English literature and art. Additionally, the name has been borne by various notable individuals throughout history, including military leaders and politicians, further embedding it in the cultural fabric of England.
Culturally, the name Blake has been associated with strength and resilience, often linked to the imagery of darkness and light, which can symbolize the duality of human experience. This thematic resonance has allowed the name to endure through centuries, appealing to various generations.
The diminutive form "Blakey" has also emerged, often used affectionately in familial contexts, though it is less common in formal usage. Overall, the name Blake carries a rich historical and cultural significance, reflecting its evolution from a descriptive term to a distinguished personal name.
Famous people named Blake
In this section, you will find notable people named Blake. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Blake who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Blake who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Blake Lively is an actress best known for Gossip Girl, The Age of Adaline, and A Simple Favor.
Blake Shelton is a country music singer best known for Austin, Honey Bee, and God's Country.
Blake Griffin is a professional basketball player best known for his time with the Los Angeles Clippers, winning the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, and being a multiple-time NBA All-Star.
Blake Anderson is an actor and comedian best known for Workaholics, The Package, and Dope.
Blake Lewis is a singer and songwriter best known for being a finalist on American Idol and for his album Audio Daydream.
Fictional characters named Blake
The following list of fictional characters named Blake is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Blake is a fictional character from the TV series Blake's 7. He is the leader of a group of rebels fighting against a totalitarian regime in a dystopian future.
Blake is a fictional character from the comic book series The Sandman. They are a member of the Endless, embodying the concept of dreams and influencing the dream world.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Blake, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Blake. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Blake was first seen in the United States in 1883.
Blake has ranked as high as #102 nationally, which occurred in 2012, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Florida, Ohio, and Michigan.
In the past 5 years the name Blake has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Blake is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Blake was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Blake (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 106 | |
| TX | 97 | |
| FL | 85 | |
| NY | 81 | |
| MI | 75 | |
| PA | 72 | |
| OH | 52 | |
| NC | 37 | |
| WA | 37 | |
| GA | 37 | |
| MO | 36 | |
| IL | 33 | |
| VA | 33 | |
| IN | 32 | |
| MD | 30 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Blake.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,311 |
| 2023 | 1,372 |
| 2022 | 1,579 |
| 2021 | 1,848 |
| 2020 | 1,813 |
| 2019 | 2,141 |
| 2018 | 2,465 |
| 2017 | 2,626 |
| 2016 | 3,289 |
| 2015 | 4,233 |
| 2014 | 4,948 |
| 2013 | 5,649 |
| 2012 | 6,047 |
| 2011 | 5,616 |
| 2010 | 4,703 |
| 2009 | 4,952 |
| 2008 | 5,099 |
| 2007 | 5,277 |
| 2006 | 4,537 |
| 2005 | 4,418 |
| 2004 | 4,694 |
| 2003 | 5,275 |
| 2002 | 5,358 |
| 2001 | 5,356 |
| 2000 | 5,143 |
| 1999 | 4,812 |
| 1998 | 4,607 |
| 1997 | 4,728 |
| 1996 | 4,747 |
| 1995 | 4,820 |
| 1994 | 4,879 |
| 1993 | 4,504 |
| 1992 | 4,396 |
| 1991 | 4,275 |
| 1990 | 4,102 |
| 1989 | 3,523 |
| 1988 | 3,099 |
| 1987 | 2,785 |
| 1986 | 2,789 |
| 1985 | 2,922 |
| 1984 | 2,757 |
| 1983 | 2,497 |
| 1982 | 2,353 |
| 1981 | 1,702 |
| 1980 | 971 |
| 1979 | 744 |
| 1978 | 668 |
| 1977 | 644 |
| 1976 | 554 |
| 1975 | 523 |
| 1974 | 419 |
| 1973 | 427 |
| 1972 | 463 |
| 1971 | 476 |
| 1970 | 526 |
| 1969 | 521 |
| 1968 | 403 |
| 1967 | 422 |
| 1966 | 400 |
| 1965 | 445 |
| 1964 | 472 |
| 1963 | 569 |
| 1962 | 545 |
| 1961 | 511 |
| 1960 | 433 |
| 1959 | 411 |
| 1958 | 367 |
| 1957 | 288 |
| 1956 | 282 |
| 1955 | 279 |
| 1954 | 279 |
| 1953 | 207 |
| 1952 | 212 |
| 1951 | 139 |
| 1950 | 131 |
| 1949 | 89 |
| 1948 | 76 |
| 1947 | 86 |
| 1946 | 71 |
| 1945 | 51 |
| 1944 | 42 |
| 1943 | 58 |
| 1942 | 44 |
| 1941 | 33 |
| 1940 | 33 |
| 1939 | 30 |
| 1938 | 28 |
| 1937 | 28 |
| 1936 | 30 |
| 1935 | 34 |
| 1934 | 36 |
| 1933 | 41 |
| 1932 | 33 |
| 1931 | 31 |
| 1930 | 29 |
| 1929 | 30 |
| 1928 | 37 |
| 1927 | 41 |
| 1926 | 36 |
| 1925 | 37 |
| 1924 | 41 |
| 1923 | 42 |
| 1922 | 39 |
| 1921 | 61 |
| 1920 | 50 |
| 1919 | 45 |
| 1918 | 39 |
| 1917 | 38 |
| 1916 | 29 |
| 1915 | 38 |
| 1914 | 20 |
| 1913 | 16 |
| 1912 | 13 |
| 1911 | 12 |
| 1910 | 10 |
| 1909 | 8 |
| 1908 | 6 |
| 1906 | 9 |
| 1904 | 5 |
| 1903 | 7 |
| 1901 | 5 |
| 1900 | 5 |
| 1897 | 6 |
| 1895 | 5 |
| 1894 | 7 |
| 1893 | 6 |
| 1892 | 8 |
| 1890 | 5 |
| 1888 | 5 |
| 1886 | 9 |
| 1883 | 5 |