Unisex name · Old English
Blake
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: from a surname meaning black or paleBlake 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
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 1 per million |
| 1960s | 5 per million |
| 1970s | 15 per million |
| 1980s | 43 per million |
| 1990s | 107 per million |
| 2000s | 72 per million |
| 2010s | 435 per million |
| 2020s | 834 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
| 1880s | 17 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 32 per million |
| 1900s | 33 per million |
| 1910s | 39 per million |
| 1920s | 38 per million |
| 1930s | 30 per million |
| 1940s | 39 per million |
| 1950s | 128 per million |
| 1960s | 245 per million |
| 1970s | 330 per million |
| 1980s | 1,376 per million |
| 1990s | 2,355 per million |
| 2000s | 2,510 per million |
| 2010s | 2,219 per million |
| 2020s | 870 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.
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.

