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    The first name Blake

    A boy’s name from English meaning “black”, “pale”, “fair”.

    Pronounced /bleɪk/ 1 syllable Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    English origin

    Blake means “black”, “pale”, “fair” in English.

    A surname derived from either Old English blæc (“black”) or from Old English blāc (“pale, fair, shining, white”), or as an anglicisation of Irish Ó Bláthmaic.

    More names that mean black, light, white.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 367 boys were named Blake, making it the 144th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2014, with 1,106 births (#57).

    01,0002,000 1996200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    17,688
    babies named Blake, 1996–2025
    #144
    rank in 2025
    2014
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Blake with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Blake at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 1,080 boys born in the United States were named Blake, the 316th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2012, when 6,047 were.

    03,5007,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    206,623
    babies named Blake since 1880
    #316
    rank in 2025
    2012
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Other spellings and forms

    Famous people named Blake

    53 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Blake Lively
      American actress (born 1987)
    • Blake Clark
      American stand-up comedian (born 1946)
    • Blake Edwards
      American film director, screenwriter and producer (1922-2010)
    • Blake Griffin
      American basketball player (born 1989)
    • Blake Shelton
      American country music singer and television personality, born 1976
    • James Blake
      English singer-songwriter (born 1988)
    • Blake Jenner
      American actor, born 1992
    • Blake Michael
      American actor, born 1996
    • Blake Wheeler
      American ice hockey player, born 1986
    • Blake Ross
      American software developer, born 1985
    • Blake Pieroni
      American swimmer, born 1995
    • Blake Bashoff
      American actor, born 1981

    More English boys’ names

    All 216 names of English origin

    Questions

    What does the name Blake mean?
    Blake means “black”, “pale”, “fair” in English.
    What is the origin of the name Blake?
    A surname derived from either Old English blæc (“black”) or from Old English blāc (“pale, fair, shining, white”), or as an anglicisation of Irish Ó Bláthmaic.
    How popular is the name Blake?
    In 2025, 367 boys born in England and Wales were named Blake, ranking 144th. Its peak was 2014, with 1,106 births.
    Is Blake a boy's or a girl's name?
    Both. Of the 206,623 US babies named Blake since 1880, 10% were girls and 90% boys.
    When was Blake most popular?
    2012 in the United States, when 6,047 babies were named Blake, its highest rank at 71st.
    How do you pronounce Blake?
    Blake is /bleɪk/, one syllable.
    What are other spellings of Blake?
    Blayke and Blaeke.
    Is Blake also a surname?
    Yes. Blake is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.