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Blake

♀ Girl

Pronounced BLAYK /bleɪk/High

Meaning: Pale, fair (from Old English blac) or dark, black (from Old English blæc) — the two forms are opposites and both are claimed as sourcesMedium

In 30 seconds: A paradoxical Old English name that can mean both 'pale/fair' and 'dark/black.' Once almost exclusively male, Blake has become a stylish unisex name — propelled especially by actress Blake Lively.
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Origin HighOld English
MeaningPale, fair (from Old English blac) or dark, black (from Old English blæc) — the two forms are opposites and both are claimed as sources
Peak year2017
Total births (all-time)≈ 9,361

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201719512017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Blake is an Old English surname with a curious dual etymology. It may derive from Old English blac ('pale, white, fair') or from blæc ('black, dark'). Both forms evolved into the Middle English word 'blake,' and either could be the source of the surname. The name has been in use in England since the medieval period.

Blake was used almost exclusively as a boy's name through most of the 20th century. In the 21st century it has become increasingly popular for girls, driven significantly by the fame of actress Blake Lively (b. 1987). It now ranks among the top 200 girls' names in the United States while remaining in the boys' charts as well.

Did you know? The name Blake is etymologically self-contradictory: Old English blac meant 'pale/fair' while Old English blæc meant 'dark/black' — so Blake literally means its own opposite, depending on which root you trace it from.

Variations

BlakelyBlakelyn

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Blake Lively (b. 1987)
    American actress known for <em>Gossip Girl</em> and <em>The Age of Adaline</em>, who has propelled the name's use for girls.
  • ★William Blake (1757–1827)
    English poet and artist, author of <em>Songs of Innocence and Experience</em>.

If you like Blake…

Morgan— gender-neutral single-syllable surname name equally popular for girls
Reagan— Irish surname name crossing over to girls in the same era
Quinn— another crisp one-syllable gender-neutral name popular for girls

Frequently Asked

What does the name Blake mean?

Blake has a paradoxical etymology — it can mean either 'pale/fair' (from Old English blac) or 'dark/black' (from Old English blæc).

How do you pronounce Blake?

Blake is a single syllable pronounced BLAYK (/bleɪk/).

Is Blake a boy or girl name?

Blake is used for both sexes but has become increasingly popular as a girl's name in the 21st century.

How popular is Blake?

Blake has been a rising girls' name since the 2010s, now in the top 200, while also remaining in the boys' top 300.