Boy · #8,287 in 2026

Drey

A drey is the nest of a tree squirrel, flying squirrel or ringtail possum. Dreys are usually built of twigs, dry leaves, and grass, and typically assembled in the forks of a tall tree. They are sometimes referred to as "drey nests" to distinguish them from squirrel "cavity nests".

Current Rank
#8,287
Peak Rank
#2,554 (1995)
Total Babies
437
5-Yr Trend
-1%
1985
First Year
2024
Last Year
1995
Peak Year
#2554
Peak Rank
437
Total Count
36
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Drey

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

A drey is the nest of a tree squirrel, flying squirrel or ringtail possum. Dreys are usually built of twigs, dry leaves, and grass, and typically assembled in the forks of a tall tree. They are sometimes referred to as "drey nests" to distinguish them from squirrel "cavity nests".

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
Sign for the "Squirrel's Drey" pub in Sporle , Norfolk, UK The origin of the word drey is unknown, but has been traced in English to the early 17th century.

The Story of Drey

Drey first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1985, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1995, when 29 Dreys were born — ranking #2,554 that year. As of 2026, Drey ranks #8,287 for baby boys with 9 births, holding steady (-1%). In total, more than 437 Dreys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Drey

Phonetically similar names — useful when Drey is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Drey

What does the name Drey mean?
A drey is the nest of a tree squirrel, flying squirrel or ringtail possum. Dreys are usually built of twigs, dry leaves, and grass, and typically assembled in the forks of a tall tree. They are sometimes referred to as "drey nests" to distinguish them from squirrel "cavity nests".
How popular is Drey in 2026?
In 2026, Drey ranks #8,287 among boys' names in the U.S., with 9 babies given the name that year.
When was Drey most popular?
Drey reached its peak popularity in 1995, ranking #2,554 that year with 29 babies given the name.
Is Drey a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Drey is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Drey?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Drey include Tomasz, Keenon, Larnell. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Drey

Drey is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1985 and has accumulated 437 births in the dataset. Drey's peak popularity came in 1995 when it ranked #2,554. Use the chart and map above to compare Drey's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.