Drue is a distinctive given name of uncertain origin and meaning, primarily used as a unisex name but more commonly encountered among females. It first gained popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century, likely due to its unique sound and its phonetic similarity to other popular names of the era like Sue or Drew. However, its exact etymology remains unclear, with some sources suggesting it may be a diminutive form of names like Drucilla or Drusilla, while others propose it could be derived from Old Norse elements meaning 'strong' or 'powerful'. Despite its uncertain origins, Drue has maintained a steady, if modest, presence in baby name statistics over the years.
"The name Drue experienced its peak popularity around the mid-20th century, with the highest number of births recorded in 1963 (17 births). However, it appears to have declined significantly since then, with fewer than 15 births per year between 1984 and 2004. Recently, there has been a slight resurgence, with over 25 births in both 2021 and 2022."