Total births
856
Boys' name · since 1989
Dre
Dre has 856 recorded births since 1989 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1993 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #4261
- among boys today
- 856
- born since 1989
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 70%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Dre is the #4261 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 856 recorded since 1989.
Social Security Administration records show Dre recorded 856 times among boys since 1989, holding rank #4261 nationally today, ahead of 70% of boys, peaking in the 2010s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1989 to 2025.
- #4261 among boys today
- 856 born since 1989
- 2010s peak decade
- 70% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Dre is currently the #4261 boys' name in America, more common than 70% of boys - 856 born since 1989, peaking in the 2010s.
- #4261
- among boys today
- 856
- born since 1989
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 70%
- more common than other boys
Dre vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#4261
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 70% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
32% of everyone ever named Dre was born in this single decade.
1993
Single peak year
56 babies were named Dre in 1993 - its busiest year on record.
How Dre compares
856 Top 33% higher than 67% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Dre's all-time total is 133% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Dre | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 856 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 56 | 23 | 22,252 |
Dre's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Dre splits its recorded history at 2007: 57% of all births land in the more recent half, 43% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1989 (6 births) -- compare that against the 1993 peak of 56 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Dre at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1993
Current rank
#4,261
Active since
1989
Dre popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1989–2025
- Peak year (1993)
- 56
- Annual births at peak, across 37 years of records
Dre popularity over time - girls
5 total births recorded since 2019 (Dre as girls' name)
Dre by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Dre's strongest decade.
272 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 32% of all-time use.
Dre births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1980s 6
1980s
6 births
- 1990s
1990s
228 births
- 2000s
2000s
190 births
- 2010s
2010s
272 births
- 2020s
2020s
160 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 272 births (32% of all-time use).
How Dre compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Dre's total volume
Dre vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Dre by state
Where Dre concentrates geographically, total births since 1989
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 49 | 5.7% |
| #2 | California | | 29 | 3.4% |
| #3 | Louisiana | | 11 | 1.3% |
Texas share of Dre's total US births 5.7%
Even split
49 of 856 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Dre? ▼
856 babies have been named Dre since 1989. It currently ranks #4261 among boys. The peak year was 1993 with 56 births.
When was Dre most popular? ▼
Dre was most popular in the 2010s decade with 272 total births. The single peak year was 1993.
Where is Dre most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Dre are Texas (49 births), California (29 births), Louisiana (11 births).
How long has the name Dre been used? ▼
Records for Dre go back to 1989, giving 37 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Dre? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Drew, Drexel, Dresden, Drevon, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Dre's data
- Dre's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (272 total births) through the 2020s (160) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Texas records the most Dres (49 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Dre
Nearby Names Like Dre
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Dre
Drew Boy
#542 78,592 births
Drexel Boy
#6854 1,404 births
Dresden Boy
#4646 972 births
Drevon Boy
#5541 761 births
Dreshawn Boy
#12907 736 births
Compare Dre side by side: Dre vs Drew Dre vs Drexel Dre vs Dresden
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Dre
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1989–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Dre: #4261 Boys' Name - 856 Births, Peak 1993." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/dre. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Dre draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.