Drew first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Drew has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Drew

Of English origin, Drew means "manly" or "brave".

Popularity of Drew by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Drew is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 89% of people named Drew being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 546 male babies and 368 female babies born with the name Drew.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 546 368
2022 564 332
2021 576 339
2020 536 270
2019 552 184
2018 630 179
2017 675 205
2016 800 216
2015 896 213
2014 1,062 212
2013 1,179 226
2012 1,239 234
2011 1,232 170
2010 1,414 167
2009 1,263 176
2008 1,479 170
2007 1,830 210
2006 1,860 197
2005 1,950 252
2004 1,667 240
2003 1,572 200
2002 1,575 214
2001 1,565 264
2000 1,948 283
1999 2,009 395
1998 1,803 276
1997 1,992 250
1996 2,100 287
1995 2,178 280
1994 1,856 194
1993 1,853 166
1992 1,779 126
1991 1,804 94
1990 1,954 85
1989 2,012 81
1988 1,754 72
1987 1,759 101
1986 2,001 112
1985 2,277 121
1984 1,765 79
1983 1,376 74
1982 1,013 36
1981 917 19
1980 720 7
1979 623 15
1978 547 6
1977 484 0
1976 419 7
1975 376 6
1974 377 6

The history of the first name Drew

The name Drew has its origins in the Old English language and can be traced back to the 8th century AD. It is derived from the Old English word "dreu," which means "servant" or "man." The name is believed to have been particularly popular in Anglo-Saxon England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Drew can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England conducted in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror. The name is listed as a personal name among the landowners and tenants of the time.

In the Middle Ages, the name Drew was often associated with individuals from the lower social classes, as it reflected their status as servants or workers. However, over time, the name gained wider acceptance and was adopted by families from various backgrounds.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Drew. One of the earliest known figures was Drew Noyes (1609-1689), an English Puritan minister who emigrated to Massachusetts and became a prominent figure in the early colonial era of New England.

Another notable Drew was Drew Pearson (1897-1969), an American journalist and author who was known for his influential daily newspaper column, "Washington Merry-Go-Round," which provided insider information and gossip from the political scene in Washington, D.C.

In the world of sports, Drew Brees (born 1979) is a former professional American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 20 seasons, primarily with the New Orleans Saints. He is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history and led the Saints to their first Super Bowl victory in 2010.

In literature, Drew Gilpin Faust (born 1947) is an American historian and the former president of Harvard University. She is known for her groundbreaking work on the American Civil War and its impact on society, particularly her book "This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War."

Finally, Drew Barrymore (born 1975) is an American actress, producer, director, and author who has been in the entertainment industry since childhood. She is best known for her roles in films such as "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," "Charlie's Angels," and "Scream."

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Drew was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Drew, please contact us.

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"Drew first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/drew-meaning-and-history/.

"Drew first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/drew-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Drew first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/drew-meaning-and-history/.

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