UK boy's name
Dries
A masculine Dutch given name derived from the Biblical name Andrew.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2013. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Dries is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Dries popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2013 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4685, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2013 to 2013. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Dries is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Dries. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2014 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Dries ranked #4685 for boys in England and Wales in 2013, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 3 boys were registered as Dries.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Dries as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4685
2013
Births in 2013
3
Latest year
Peak year
2013
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Dries mean?
The name Dries has its origins in the Dutch and Flemish languages, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is a diminutive form of the name Andries, which is the Dutch and Flemish variant of the name Andrew. The name Andrew itself is derived from the Greek name "Andreas," meaning "manly" or "brave."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dries can be found in the 14th-century Dutch text "Rijmbijbel" (Rhymed Bible). This work, written by Jacob van Maerlant, mentions a character named "Andries" or "Dries," indicating the use of the name during that time period in the Low Countries.
In the 15th century, a prominent figure with the name Dries was Dries van Haerlam, a Dutch painter and architect who lived from around 1420 to 1490. He is known for his contributions to the Gothic architectural style and his work on various churches and buildings in the Netherlands.
Another notable individual named Dries was Dries Ruelens (1623-1678), a Flemish painter and engraver who was born in Antwerp. His works primarily focused on landscapes and architectural scenes, and he is considered one of the most important Flemish landscape painters of the 17th century.
In the 19th century, Dries van der Willigen (1833-1910) was a Dutch politician and jurist who served as the Minister of Justice in the Netherlands from 1888 to 1891. He played a significant role in the reform of the Dutch legal system during his tenure.
A more recent historical figure with the name Dries is Dries van Agt (born 1931), a Dutch politician who served as the Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1977 to 1982. He was a prominent figure in the Christian Democratic Appeal party and is remembered for his role in various political developments during his time in office.
While the name Dries is primarily associated with the Dutch and Flemish cultures, it has also been used in other regions and languages, although to a lesser extent. The name has a strong historical presence and has been borne by various influential individuals throughout the centuries, reflecting its enduring popularity and cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Dries by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Dries was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4685 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Dries
- Daniel 120,900
- Dylan 60,836
- David 37,852
- Dominic 20,480
- Declan 11,657
- Dexter 11,627
- Danny 8,434
- Dean 5,329
- Dillon 4,113
- Douglas 3,773
- Dominik 3,494
- Damian 3,486
FAQ
Dries: questions and answers
How popular is the name Dries in the UK right now?
In 2013, Dries was ranked #4685 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Dries most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 3 babies registered as Dries in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Dries?
A masculine Dutch given name derived from the Biblical name Andrew.
How many people are called Dries in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Dries across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.