Drey
A diminutive form of Andrew, meaning "manly" or "brave" of Greek origin.
Name Census estimates that about 430 living Americans carry the first name Drey. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Drey today is around 22 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Drey births was 1995 (29 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Drey. 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
430
~ 1 in 797,103 Americans
Peak year
1995
29 babies that year
Average age
22
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,469
Tracked since 1985
Popularity
Drey: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Drey from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 171 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Drey 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 Drey 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 Drey
The name Drey finds its origins in the Germanic languages, with its roots dating back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old High German word "drau," which translates to "brave" or "courageous." This name was initially prevalent among the tribes of modern-day Germany and surrounding regions.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Drey can be found in the Nibelungenlied, an epic poem from the 13th century. In this literary work, Drey was the name of a valiant warrior who fought alongside the renowned hero Siegfried. This association with bravery and heroism may have contributed to the name's popularity during that era.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Drey. One such figure was Drey von Andechs (1180-1237), a German nobleman and crusader who participated in the Fifth Crusade. His exploits and leadership during the crusades earned him recognition and respect among his contemporaries.
In the realm of literature, Drey Heyward (1886-1976) was an American author and playwright, best known for his novel "Porgy," which later inspired the opera "Porgy and Bess." His work shed light on the African American experience in the early 20th century and contributed significantly to the cultural landscape of the time.
Another prominent figure was Drey Scholes (1920-2002), a British computer scientist and mathematician. Scholes played a crucial role in the development of early computer systems and programming languages, contributing significantly to the field of computer science during its formative years.
In the world of sports, Drey Becker (1926-2012) was a legendary German footballer who played as a striker for Bayern Munich and the German national team. He was part of the West German squad that won the 1954 FIFA World Cup, cementing his place in the annals of football history.
While the name Drey has its roots in the Germanic languages, it has also found use in other cultures and regions over time. However, its core meaning and association with bravery and courage remain consistent throughout its history, reflecting the enduring legacy of this ancient name.
People
Drey + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Drey 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
Drey: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Drey?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 430 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Drey 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 797,103 US residents.
Is Drey a common name?
We classify Drey as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 437 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Drey most popular?
The single biggest year for Drey was 1995, when 29 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Drey is about 22 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Drey a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Drey 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.
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.