The first name Drew
A unisex name meaning “to carry”, “pull”, “phantom”.
Pronounced /dɹuː/ 1 syllable Unisex Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Drew means “to carry”, “pull”, “phantom”.
From Anglo-Norman Drew, Drieu, Drue, from Old French Drogon, Dreus, Drues (made popular by Charlemagne's son Drogo) from Old Dutch Drogo, of uncertain ultimate origin. Possibly from Proto-West Germanic *dragan (“to carry, pull”), or from Proto-Germanic *draugaz (“phantom, apparition”).
Drew is a short form of
.From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 31 boys were named Drew, making it the 976th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2001, with 225 births (#163).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Drew with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Drew at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 541 boys born in the United States were named Drew, the 553rd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1985, when 2,276 were.
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.
Questions
- What does the name Drew mean?
- Drew means “to carry”, “pull”, “phantom”.
- How popular is the name Drew?
- In 2025, 31 boys born in England and Wales were named Drew, ranking 976th. Its peak was 2001, with 225 births.
- Is Drew a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 88,085 US babies named Drew since 1880, 11% were girls and 89% boys.
- When was Drew most popular?
- 1985 in the United States, when 2,276 babies were named Drew, its highest rank at 126th.
- How do you pronounce Drew?
- Drew is /dɹuː/, one syllable.
- Is Drew also a surname?
- Yes. Drew is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.