Blake

♂ Boy

Pronounced BLAYK /bleɪk/High

Meaning: From the Old English 'blac' (pale, fair) or 'blaec' (dark, black) — an interesting paradox meaning either very fair or very dark, originally a descriptive nickname.High

In 30 seconds: Blake is a sharp, one-syllable surname name with a fascinatingly contradictory origin — it meant both 'fair' and 'dark' in Old English. Today it reads as effortlessly cool and genderless.

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Origin HighOld English

MeaningFrom the Old English 'blac' (pale, fair) or 'blaec' (dark, black) — an interesting paradox meaning either very fair or very dark, originally a descriptive nickname.

U.S. rank (2025)#316 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births1,080 boys (0.06% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2012

Total births (all-time)≈ 186,535

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

The Old English words blac (shining, pale) and blaec (black, dark) were both ancestors of the modern surname Blake. These words were applied as nicknames to people with notably light or dark complexions, eventually solidifying as hereditary surnames in medieval England. The surname Blake appears in English records from the thirteenth century onward.

As a given name, Blake gained traction in the United States during the twentieth century, initially almost exclusively for boys. It received a boost from the television series Dynasty (1981–1989), in which Blake Carrington was the powerful protagonist. By the 2000s and 2010s, Blake had become increasingly unisex, used for both boys and girls — actress Blake Lively being the most prominent female bearer. Despite this crossover, it continues to rank in the top 500 for boys in the US.

Did you know? Blake is one of the very few English names that simultaneously meant two opposite things — 'pale' (from Old English blac) and 'dark' (from blaec) — depending on regional dialect, making its original meaning a genuine etymological paradox.

Overall data confidence 90%

Oxford Dictionary of English Surnames — Old English origins and dual meanings of BlakeSocial Security Administration Name Data — US gender split and popularity trends

Variations

BlakelyBlaike

Nicknames

Blake

Famous Bearers

★Blake Shelton (1976–)
American country music singer and television personality.
★Blake Lively (1987–)
American actress known for Gossip Girl, one of the most famous female bearers.

If you like Blake…

Chase— one-syllable Old English surname-as-first-name with a similarly energetic feel

Grant— crisp one-syllable Anglo-Saxon surname name with strong, confident sound

Lane— single-syllable nature-adjacent English surname name popular for boys and girls

Burke— the same surname-name feel

Briggs— a fellow Old English choice

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Blake mean?

Blake means 'fair-haired' or 'dark', from Old English blac and blaec — a paradox referring to either complexion.

How do you pronounce Blake?

Blake is pronounced BLAYK (/bleɪk/), one syllable rhyming with 'lake'.

Is Blake a boy or girl name?

Blake is predominantly a boy's name but has become increasingly unisex, used for girls as well.

How popular is Blake?

Blake has ranked in the US top 150 for boys for decades and also appears in the top 300 for girls.