Given name & surname
Oak
“from the oak-tree grove”
Oak is a variant of Oakes. One English interpretation is “from the oak-tree grove.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Oak is a variant of Oakes. One English interpretation is “from the oak-tree grove.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Oak is a variant of Oakes. An origin associated with Oakes is English.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1920. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Oak through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 674
- 647 boys · 27 girls
- Most popular year
- 2023
- 76 babies
- 2025
- 59
- #2,344 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +59%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 59 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,344 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 45.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Tennessee had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (6). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 592 as a first name in 2020; 1,235 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Oak, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Usher
“from the mouth of the river” · “from. the mouth of the river”
>99% boys
Woods
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98% boys · 2% girls
Rowen
“of the red-berry tree”
77% boys · 23% girls
Locke
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>99% boys
Arlo
“from the barberry tree”
96% boys · 4% girls
Rio
“woman of the river” · “from the river”
79% boys · 21% girls
Murdoch
“from the sea”
>99% boys
Leith
“from the broad river”
>99% boys