Drake, of Old Norse origin, is an occupational surname meaning "dragon" or "snake," given to someone who was either a dragon slayer, worked with dragons or snakes in some capacity, or had the insignia of a dragon or snake on their coat of arms. It has also been suggested that Drake could be derived from the Old English word "draca," which means "serpent." The name Drake gained prominence during the 16th century due to Sir Francis Drake, an English explorer, pirate, and naval commander who circumnavigated the globe between 1577 and 1580. Today, Drake is widely recognized as a surname with a strong historical association with maritime exploration and adventure.
The name Drake experienced fluctuations in popularity from 1994 to 2020, with the highest years being 1997 and 2010 at 8 births each, and the lowest year being 2020 with only 5 births. The overall total of births for this name over these decades is 83.