Drue Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: droo //druː//
Origin: English; Irish
Meaning: English: brave; Irish: descendant of the druid
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Drue is derived from the Old French name "Dru," which itself has roots in the Latin name "Drusus." The Latin "Drusus" is believed to be of uncertain origin, but it may be linked to the Greek word "druos," meaning "oak tree." This connection to the oak tree symbolizes strength and endurance, traits that have historically been valued in various cultures. The name made its way into English through Norman influence after the Conquest of England in the 11th century, where it was adopted and adapted into various forms, including Drue.
Historically, the name Drue has been associated with several notable figures. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 1st century BCE with the Roman general and politician Drusus, who was a prominent member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.
The name also appears in various medieval texts, where it was sometimes used as a diminutive or affectionate form of names like Andrew or Drew. In the context of English literature, the name has been referenced in works from the Renaissance period, reflecting its integration into the cultural fabric of the time.
Culturally, the name Drue carries connotations of strength and resilience, often associated with the oak tree's enduring nature. This symbolism has contributed to the name's persistence through the centuries.
Additionally, the name has been linked to various traditions and folklore, where trees, particularly oaks, are often seen as sacred or significant in many cultures. The name Drue, while not as widely recognized as some other names, has maintained a presence in historical records and literary references, reflecting its roots and the values it embodies.
Famous people named Drue
In this section, you will find notable people named Drue. 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 Drue who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Drue 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.
Drue Smith is a professional basketball player best known for playing with the Indiana State Sycamores and the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
Drue McCray is a musician best known for his work as a guitarist and songwriter in the rock genre.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Drue, 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 Drue. 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 Drue was first seen in the United States in 1915.
Drue has ranked as high as #1330 nationally, which occurred in 2023, and has been most popular in Texas, California, North Carolina, Ohio, and Louisiana.
In the past 5 years the name Drue has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Drue 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 Drue was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Drue (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 |
|---|---|---|
| MD | 5 |
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 Drue.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 38 |
| 2023 | 46 |
| 2022 | 37 |
| 2021 | 25 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2019 | 18 |
| 2018 | 16 |
| 2017 | 18 |
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2008 | 12 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2005 | 17 |
| 2004 | 19 |
| 2003 | 20 |
| 2002 | 17 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2000 | 20 |
| 1999 | 24 |
| 1998 | 26 |
| 1997 | 38 |
| 1996 | 22 |
| 1995 | 23 |
| 1994 | 28 |
| 1993 | 23 |
| 1992 | 18 |
| 1991 | 9 |
| 1990 | 21 |
| 1989 | 23 |
| 1988 | 15 |
| 1987 | 20 |
| 1986 | 23 |
| 1985 | 22 |
| 1984 | 12 |
| 1983 | 16 |
| 1981 | 11 |
| 1980 | 8 |
| 1979 | 16 |
| 1978 | 14 |
| 1977 | 10 |
| 1976 | 13 |
| 1975 | 13 |
| 1974 | 21 |
| 1973 | 11 |
| 1972 | 12 |
| 1971 | 9 |
| 1970 | 10 |
| 1969 | 17 |
| 1968 | 14 |
| 1967 | 11 |
| 1966 | 6 |
| 1965 | 5 |
| 1964 | 15 |
| 1963 | 17 |
| 1962 | 6 |
| 1961 | 13 |
| 1960 | 9 |
| 1959 | 10 |
| 1958 | 8 |
| 1957 | 6 |
| 1956 | 9 |
| 1955 | 6 |
| 1954 | 9 |
| 1951 | 5 |
| 1950 | 6 |
| 1948 | 5 |
| 1947 | 8 |
| 1946 | 6 |
| 1944 | 6 |
| 1943 | 5 |
| 1942 | 7 |
| 1939 | 9 |
| 1938 | 6 |
| 1936 | 5 |
| 1934 | 7 |
| 1930 | 6 |
| 1928 | 5 |
| 1925 | 11 |
| 1924 | 7 |
| 1922 | 8 |
| 1921 | 11 |
| 1920 | 5 |
| 1919 | 8 |
| 1916 | 13 |
| 1915 | 6 |