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Drew Name Meaning, Origins & History

Drew

Pronunciation: DROO

Meaning Wise Origin Germanic Gender Unisex
BOYS RANK
#553
TREND
11
GIRLS RANK
#706
TREND
11
Peak Years
1985, 1995, 1996
Lowest Years
1893, 1890, 1889
Energy Archetype
Practical & Determined

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Drew in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Drew

  • More than 88 thousand babies named Drew: U.S. records list 88,078 babies given the name Drew from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 9,492 girls received the name Drew - about 1 girl for every 8 boys.

What Does the Name Drew Mean?

Drew is an English name meaning "manly." It is chiefly a short form of Andrew, which comes from the Greek Andreas. That Greek name is built on anēr, genitive andros, the word for "man," so its sense is "manly" or "of a man." Making Drew from Andrew means dropping the opening syllable and keeping the rest, a common way English forms pet names.

The surname Drew has a different root, and some uses of the given name come from it. It goes back to the Old French personal name Dru, also spelled Dreu or Drou, which the Normans brought to England. That name is usually traced to a Germanic source, though its exact origin is not settled. It should not be confused with the Greek root behind Andrew.

Drew Name History & Origins

Andrew is a biblical name: it belonged to one of the Twelve Apostles, the brother of Peter, and Andrew later became the patron saint of Scotland. Devotion to the apostle helped make the full name common across medieval Europe, and shortened forms were used alongside it. Drew is one of those short forms, made by trimming the start of the name; Andy is another.

In England, Drew appears in the Middle Ages as both a personal name and a surname, with spellings such as Dru. As a surname it was passed down through families and carried to North America by English and Scottish emigrants. There, like many surnames, it was taken up as a first name in its own right, and it is now used for both boys and girls.

As a surname, Drew also appears in the title of the Nancy Drew detective stories, which began in 1930; that is a much later literary use and has nothing to do with the name's origin.

How Popular is the Name Drew?

Drew recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1985. Its best rank was #126 in 1985.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

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How the Name Drew Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You are strong in material matters, determined and stubborn. You have good business ability. You are a good worker, steady and practical, a builder who takes responsibility well. These qualities may bring you a position of authority and power. You are a doer, down-to-earth, serious-minded, reliable, and self-disciplined; have good power of concentration. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.

You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.

✦ Drew's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Drew's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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