Drake Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: drayk //dreɪk//
Origin: English; Irish
Meaning: English: dragon; Irish: descendant of the druid
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Drake has its roots in Old English, derived from the word "draca," which means "dragon" or "serpent." This term is believed to have been influenced by the Proto-Germanic *drakō, which also denotes a dragon. The name entered the English language through various linguistic transitions, including Old Norse, where "draki" carried a similar meaning.
By the time it was adopted into Middle English, it had evolved into the form "drake," which not only referred to the mythical creature but also came to denote a male duck, showcasing the duality of its meanings in nature and mythology. Historically, the name Drake has been associated with notable figures, particularly Sir Francis Drake, an English sea captain and privateer who played a significant role in the defeat of the Spanish Armada in the late 16th century.
His exploits and contributions to naval warfare during the Elizabethan era cemented the name's association with bravery and adventure. Additionally, the name appears in various historical texts and literature, reflecting its enduring presence in English culture.
Culturally, the name Drake has been imbued with symbolism related to strength and valor, often linked to the legendary qualities of dragons in folklore. The dragon, as a powerful creature, has been a prominent figure in various mythologies, representing wisdom, strength, and protection.
This association has contributed to the name's lasting appeal through the centuries. The diminutive form "Drake" has also been used in various contexts, though it primarily stands as a strong, standalone name with deep historical roots.
Famous people named Drake
In this section, you will find notable people named Drake. 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 Drake who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Drake 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.
Drake is a rapper and singer best known for Take Care, Views, and Scorpion.
Drake Bell is an actor and musician best known for Drake & Josh, and his music career.
Drake Parker is a fictional character best known as the lead character in the television series Drake & Josh.
Fictional characters named Drake
The following list of fictional characters named Drake 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.
Drake Parker is a fictional character from the TV show Drake & Josh. He is a carefree and popular teenager who often finds himself in comedic situations with his stepbrother Josh.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Drake, 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 Drake. 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 Drake was first seen in the United States in 1918.
Drake has ranked as high as #353 nationally, which occurred in 2010, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Drake has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Drake 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 Drake was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Drake (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 |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 30 | |
| LA | 26 | |
| FL | 24 | |
| CA | 21 | |
| MI | 20 | |
| NC | 20 | |
| OK | 18 | |
| AL | 17 | |
| IL | 16 | |
| GA | 15 | |
| AR | 13 | |
| TN | 13 | |
| KY | 12 | |
| VA | 12 | |
| OH | 12 |
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 Drake.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 414 |
| 2023 | 397 |
| 2022 | 442 |
| 2021 | 496 |
| 2020 | 527 |
| 2019 | 488 |
| 2018 | 686 |
| 2017 | 649 |
| 2016 | 696 |
| 2015 | 782 |
| 2014 | 943 |
| 2013 | 1,217 |
| 2012 | 1,547 |
| 2011 | 1,607 |
| 2010 | 1,877 |
| 2009 | 1,587 |
| 2008 | 1,590 |
| 2007 | 1,524 |
| 2006 | 1,410 |
| 2005 | 1,338 |
| 2004 | 1,268 |
| 2003 | 1,130 |
| 2002 | 1,169 |
| 2001 | 1,245 |
| 2000 | 1,270 |
| 1999 | 1,049 |
| 1998 | 1,057 |
| 1997 | 974 |
| 1996 | 867 |
| 1995 | 795 |
| 1994 | 725 |
| 1993 | 682 |
| 1992 | 526 |
| 1991 | 424 |
| 1990 | 341 |
| 1989 | 272 |
| 1988 | 228 |
| 1987 | 138 |
| 1986 | 122 |
| 1985 | 103 |
| 1984 | 66 |
| 1983 | 82 |
| 1982 | 54 |
| 1981 | 66 |
| 1980 | 47 |
| 1979 | 42 |
| 1978 | 25 |
| 1977 | 30 |
| 1976 | 27 |
| 1975 | 17 |
| 1974 | 43 |
| 1973 | 38 |
| 1972 | 43 |
| 1971 | 41 |
| 1970 | 60 |
| 1969 | 54 |
| 1968 | 54 |
| 1967 | 49 |
| 1966 | 54 |
| 1965 | 70 |
| 1964 | 61 |
| 1963 | 49 |
| 1962 | 65 |
| 1961 | 77 |
| 1960 | 54 |
| 1959 | 48 |
| 1958 | 50 |
| 1957 | 41 |
| 1956 | 43 |
| 1955 | 38 |
| 1954 | 35 |
| 1953 | 30 |
| 1952 | 41 |
| 1951 | 35 |
| 1950 | 38 |
| 1949 | 32 |
| 1948 | 41 |
| 1947 | 31 |
| 1946 | 28 |
| 1945 | 11 |
| 1944 | 13 |
| 1943 | 15 |
| 1942 | 12 |
| 1941 | 9 |
| 1936 | 7 |
| 1930 | 5 |
| 1929 | 5 |
| 1920 | 6 |
| 1918 | 5 |