Lake
A lake is often a naturally occurring, relatively large and fixed body of water on or near the Earth's surface. It is localized in a basin or interconnected basins surrounded by dry land. Lakes lie completely on land and are separate from the ocean, although they may be connected with the ocean by rivers.
Meaning & Origin of Lake
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
A lake is often a naturally occurring, relatively large and fixed body of water on or near the Earth's surface. It is localized in a basin or interconnected basins surrounded by dry land. Lakes lie completely on land and are separate from the ocean, although they may be connected with the ocean by rivers.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Lake
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Lake as a girl name dates back to 1893, when 5 babies received it. 2020 was its biggest year on record, with 59 newborns named Lake — #2,777 in the national rankings. About 39% of every Lake on record arrived during the 2010s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Lake ranks #4,106 for girls with 35 births, falling sharply (-22%). All told, over 968 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1890s to the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Lake as a boy name dates back to 1891, when 5 babies received it. 2026 was its biggest year on record, with 106 newborns named Lake — #1,624 in the national rankings. About 21% of every Lake on record arrived during the 2020s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Lake ranks #1,624 for boys with 106 births, rising sharply (+28% over the past five years). All told, over 3K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1890s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Lake
Phonetically similar names — useful when Lake 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 Lake
What does the name Lake mean?
How popular is Lake in 2026?
When was Lake most popular?
In which U.S. states is Lake most popular?
Is Lake a unisex name?
What names go well with Lake?
About the name Lake
Lake is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1891 and has accumulated 3K births in the dataset. Lake's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #956. Use the chart and map above to compare Lake's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "L" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.