Drake
/ˈdɹeɪk/
Drake comes from the Old English draca meaning “dragon,” derived from Latin draco and ultimately from Greek drakon. In Middle English it also came to mean “male duck.” As a surname, it identified families associated with either image.
Sir Francis Drake (c. 1540-1596), the Elizabethan explorer and privateer who circumnavigated the globe, is the most historically prominent bearer. Drake Passage between South America and Antarctica is named for him.
Drake peaked at No. 196 in 2010 with 1,877 births. In 2024 it ranks No. 661 with 414 births, declining since the rapper Drake’s initial peak of cultural impact.
What the name Drake means
Rapper Drake (Aubrey Drake Graham, born 1986) is the single most influential contemporary bearer, driving the name’s surge in the 2000s and 2010s.
One syllable—DRAYK—hits with crisp authority. The consonant cluster opening and the long vowel close make it one of the more phonetically striking one-syllable names.
Parents choosing Drake today are often music fans or seek the name’s combination of historical exploration heritage and contemporary rap-culture edge.
The dragon etymology gives it fantasy resonance; the explorer connection gives it adventure; the rapper gives it modernity. Few names carry that range of cultural associations.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Drake
Drake - similar names
Not seeing what you want? Browse all names by origin or popularity