The name Blake comes from a surname that was originally derived from either the Old English word blæc, meaning "black" or blac, which meant "pale". It is theorised the name could come from a nickname for a person with either dark skin or hair or pale skin or hair. Blake was also the name of one of the Fourteen Tribes of Galway in Ireland. Although it is a traditionally masculine name, it has become more gender neutral in recent years, especially following the popularity of actress Blake Lively.