Blake

At a Glance

Meaning

Dark/black or pale/fair — a surname with two opposite Old English roots (blæc 'black' vs blāc 'pale, shining') merged into one name

Origin

Old English (surname)

Gender

Neutral

Pronunciation

BLAYKListen

Blake is a unisex name, pronounced BLAYK, that started out as an Old English surname and now carries both a bold and a timeless, classic feel. You may have heard that it simply means 'black' or 'dark' — but that's only half the story: Blake actually blends two opposite Old English roots, so it can just as easily point to 'pale' or 'fair.'

Meaning & Origin of Blake

Meaning: Dark/black or pale/fair — a surname with two opposite Old English roots (blæc 'black' vs blāc 'pale, shining') merged into one name.

Origin: Old English (surname).

A common claim: Blake is widely said to simply mean 'black' or 'dark.' Actually: That's only half the story — Blake actually merges two opposite Old English roots, so it can equally mean 'pale, fair,' not just 'black.'

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Blake

Popularity of Blake

Blake hit its high point in 2012 at #71 on the SSA list, with 6,047 babies given the name that year; by 2024 it had settled to #210, with 1,457 babies named Blake.

Names Like Blake

These names share Blake’s style, era or origin.

• King
• River
• Ryder
• Adelynn
• Aubrey
• Audrey

FAQ

What does the name Blake mean?

Dark/black or pale/fair — a surname with two opposite Old English roots (blæc ‘black’ vs blāc ‘pale, shining’) merged into one name. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Blake?

Blake is pronounced BLAYK (IPA: /ˈbleɪk/).

Is Blake a popular name right now?

Blake peaked at #71 in 2012 and is ranked #210 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1883–2024.)

Make Blake Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Blake, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.