Draken
A Scandinavian and Germanic name meaning "dragon" or "serpent".
Name Census estimates that about 167 living Americans carry the first name Draken. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Draken today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Draken births was 2013 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Draken. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
167
~ 1 in 2,052,421 Americans
Peak year
2013
14 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,197
Tracked since 2001
Popularity
Draken: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Draken from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 85 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Draken by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Draken during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Draken
The name Draken has its roots in the Old Norse language, spoken by the Norse people who inhabited Scandinavia and parts of northern Europe during the Viking Age, which lasted from the late 8th century to the late 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old Norse word "draki," which means "dragon" or "serpent."
The dragon was a powerful and revered symbol in Norse mythology, often associated with strength, wisdom, and guardianship. The name Draken may have been given to individuals who were believed to possess these qualities or who were born under auspicious astrological circumstances related to the dragon.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Draken can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of stories and historical accounts written in the 13th and 14th centuries. These sagas often featured characters with names inspired by Norse mythology and culture.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Draken. One of the earliest was Draken Ragnarsson, a Viking chieftain and warrior who lived in the 9th century and was renowned for his bravery and skill in battle. Another notable figure was Draken Eriksson, a Norwegian explorer and navigator who is believed to have been one of the first Europeans to set foot in North America, predating Christopher Columbus by several centuries.
In the 12th century, there was Draken Halvorsson, a skilled blacksmith and metalworker who was renowned for his intricate and beautiful creations. His works were highly sought after by nobles and kings throughout Scandinavia and Europe.
During the Renaissance period, Draken Jörgensen was a Danish artist and sculptor who gained fame for his intricate wood carvings and sculptures. His works can still be seen in various churches and museums across Denmark and Germany.
In more recent times, Draken Andersen was a Norwegian explorer and adventurer who led several expeditions to the Arctic regions in the early 20th century. His exploits and discoveries contributed significantly to our understanding of the harsh and unforgiving environments of the far north.
While the name Draken may not be as common today as it once was, it remains a powerful and evocative name with a rich history and cultural significance, particularly in Scandinavian countries where its Norse roots are deeply embedded.
People
Draken + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Draken as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Draken: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Draken?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 167 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Draken going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,052,421 US residents.
Is Draken a common name?
We classify Draken as "Very Rare". It ranks above 71.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 169 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Draken most popular?
The single biggest year for Draken was 2013, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Draken is about 16 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Draken in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Draken a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Draken in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Draken still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Draken in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Draken can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Draken?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many Americans are named Draken at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.