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Dre
♂ Boy
Pronounced DRAY /ˈdreɪ/High
Meaning: Short form of Andre/Andrew — Greek andreios, 'manly, brave, courageous'Medium
In 30 seconds: Cool and crisp: Dre shortens Andre/Andrew — 'manly, brave' — into a sleek one-syllable name (legendary producer Dr. Dre). Bold and modern.
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MeaningShort form of Andre/Andrew — Greek andreios, 'manly, brave, courageous'
U.S. rank (2025)#5674 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births16 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1993
Total births (all-time)≈ 855
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
Dre is a short form of Andre or Andrew — from Greek andreios, 'manly, brave, courageous'. A sleek, modern one-syllable name, it's made iconic by producer Dr. Dre.
It registers thinly as a standalone. Rare on its own, brave at the root, and cool.
Did you know? Dre shortens Andre or Andrew, 'manly, brave' — and hip-hop legend Dr. Dre (Andre Young) made it iconic; it's sleek and bold.
Overall data confidence 75%
Behind the Name — Andre — root etymology
Variations
DrayDreyAndre
Nicknames
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Famous Bearers
- ★Dr. Dre (1965-)American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur; co-founder of Death Row Records and Aftermath Entertainment
- ★Dre Baldwin (1983-)American former professional basketball player turned author and motivational speaker
If you like Dre…
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By meaningBrave / Courage
Frequently Asked
What does the name Dre mean?
Dre shortens Andre/Andrew, Greek 'manly, brave'.
How do you pronounce Dre?
It's said DRAY /ˈdreɪ/ — a single syllable.
Is Dre a boy or girl name?
Dre is a boy's name.
How popular is Dre?
Dre is a rare standalone name in the U.S.