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Unisex name · Old English

Blake

Name meaning, origin and popularity

: from a surname meaning black or pale

Blake is a gender-neutral name that comes from an Old English surname meaning "black or pale". It is used in English.

Meaning
From a surname meaning black or pale
Origin
Old English
Gender
Unisex
US rank
#295 in 2025

Meaning and origin of Blake

As a gender-neutral name, Blake comes from an Old English surname meaning "black or pale". It is used in English.

Blake is also a surname: the 450th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 71,425 people. See the most common last names.

Meaning checked against Behind the Name. How we research names

Blake on Nomezo lists

What our editors wrote about Blake on 3 lists.

  • “Shelton gave it easygoing country humor”

    From Redneck names for boys, country music inspired boy names

  • “Old English for dark, or oddly, pale”

    From Black cat names, black cat names for males

  • “Pale or dark; Old English, given to 1,035 girls and 1,080 boys in 2025”

    From Gender neutral names, popular gender-neutral names

How popular is Blake?

In 2025, 1,035 girls and 1,080 boys in the US were named Blake.

As a girl’s name

US rank in 2025
#295
1,035 babies, 644 per million girls
Best rank
#199 in 2021
1,504 babies that year
Babies since 1951
At least 20,065
Years with under 5 are not listed
1880s1900s1920s1940s1960s1980s2000s2020s
Babies per million US girls, by decade (the 2020s so far, to 2025). Highest in the 2020s, at 834 per million.
Babies named Blake per million US girls, by decade; highest in the 2020s
1880s0 per million
1890s0 per million
1900s0 per million
1910s0 per million
1920s0 per million
1930s0 per million
1940s0 per million
1950s1 per million
1960s5 per million
1970s15 per million
1980s43 per million
1990s107 per million
2000s72 per million
2010s435 per million
2020s834 per million
US rank by year
Year2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Rank#298#269#280#224#222#199#200#221#210#295

As a boy’s name

US rank in 2025
#316
1,080 babies, 632 per million boys
Best rank
#71 in 2012
6,047 babies that year
Babies since 1883
At least 186,558
Years with under 5 are not listed
1880s1900s1920s1940s1960s1980s2000s2020s
Babies per million US boys, by decade (the 2020s so far, to 2025). Highest in the 2000s, at 2,510 per million.
Babies named Blake per million US boys, by decade; highest in the 2000s
1880s17 per million
1890s32 per million
1900s33 per million
1910s39 per million
1920s38 per million
1930s30 per million
1940s39 per million
1950s128 per million
1960s245 per million
1970s330 per million
1980s1,376 per million
1990s2,355 per million
2000s2,510 per million
2010s2,219 per million
2020s870 per million
US rank by year
Year2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Rank#127#149#158#183#209#205#228#254#265#316

Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.

Names spelled like Blake

One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.

  • BlairPlain, field (Scottish Gaelic, unisex)
  • BakerFrom a surname meaning baker (Old English, boy)
  • BeateBlessed, happy (Latin, girl)
  • BlakelyDark clearing (Old English, girl)
  • BlankaWhite, fair (Germanic, girl)

Names with a similar meaning

  • MiriamForm of Mary, meaning uncertain; perhaps Egyptian beloved (Hebrew, girl)
  • AaronProbably Egyptian, meaning unknown; Hebrew theories say exalted (Hebrew, boy)
  • AlanMeaning uncertain; perhaps little rock, or from the Alans (Brythonic, boy)
  • MelaniaBlack, dark (Greek, girl)
  • MelanieBlack, dark (Greek, girl)
  • AthenaMeaning unknown; the Greek goddess of wisdom (Greek, girl)
  • DeclanMeaning unknown, though likely begins with Old Irish dag, good (Irish Gaelic, boy)
  • EvelynFrom a surname derived from the given name Aveline (English, girl)
  • GrahamFrom a surname from the place name Grantham, probably gravelly homestead (Old English, boy)
  • JacksonFrom a surname meaning son of Jack (English, boy)

Middle names for Blake

Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.

  • AlexandraDefender of men (Greek, girl)
  • ChristopherBearer of Christ (Greek, boy)
  • DaphneLaurel tree (Greek, girl)
  • GabrielleGod is my strength (Hebrew, girl)
  • HowellEminent, conspicuous (Welsh, boy)
  • IsaacHe will laugh (Hebrew, boy)
  • IsabellaGod is my oath (Hebrew, girl)
  • SophiaWisdom, skill (Greek, girl)

More names from Old English

  • EdgarWealthy spear (Old English, boy)
  • EdithRich in war (Old English, girl)
  • AlfredElf counsel (Old English, boy)
  • EduardRich guardian (Old English, boy)
  • StormTempest (Old English, unisex)
  • AlfredoElf counsel (Old English, boy)
  • AudreyNoble strength (Old English, girl)
  • EduardoRich guardian (Old English, boy)
  • HarperHarp player (Old English, unisex)
  • KnoxRound hill (Old English, boy)

Blake: common questions

What does the name Blake mean?

Blake comes from an Old English surname meaning "black or pale". Checked against Behind the Name.

Is Blake a boy or girl name?

Blake is used for both boys and girls. In 2025, 1,035 girls and 1,080 boys in the US were named Blake, according to Social Security Administration data.

Where does the name Blake come from?

Blake comes from an Old English surname meaning "black or pale". Today it is used in English.

How popular is the name Blake?

Blake ranked #295 in the US in 2025, with 1,035 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

What names are similar to Blake?

Names spelled like Blake include Blair, Baker, Beate, Blakely and Blanka.

What middle names go with Blake?

Middle names that flow well with Blake include Alexandra, Christopher, Daphne, Gabrielle and Howell. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.