Lake

♀ Girl

Pronounced LAYK /ˈleɪk/High

Meaning: From the English word lake — Latin lacus, 'pool, lake' — a serene nature word-nameHigh

In 30 seconds: Calm, clear, and one syllable deep: Lake is the nature word itself — still water and open sky. Serene, modern, and unisex.

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Origin HighEnglish

MeaningFrom the English word lake — Latin lacus, 'pool, lake' — a serene nature word-name

U.S. rank (2025)#3619 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births42 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2020

Total births (all-time)≈ 937

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

Lake comes from the English word — via Latin lacus, 'pool, lake' — a calm nature word-name in the River-Brook-Bay family. Used for both sexes, it carries a peaceful, reflective feel.

It registers thinly in records. Rare, still-water at the root, and serene.

Did you know? Actress Lake Bell made the name familiar — and 'lake', from Latin lacus, 'pool', joins River and Brook in the serene water-name set.

Overall data confidence 82%

Oxford English Dictionary — lake — word origin

Variations

Laike

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Lake Bell (1979-)
American actress, director, and screenwriter known for films In a World... and No Escape

If you like Lake…

Wren— a fellow one-syllable nature pick

Clarke— echoes that soft -ke sound

Blayke— shares the -ke ending

Blake— a similarly popular pick

Layne— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Lake

By themeenglish word-name nature

By meaningPeace Sea / Water Earth / Nature

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Lake mean?

Lake is the English word for a body of still water, from Latin lacus.

How do you pronounce Lake?

It's said LAYK /ˈleɪk/ — a single syllable.

Is Lake a boy or girl name?

Lake is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a girl's name.

How popular is Lake?

Lake is a rare name in the U.S.