Find out how popular the first name Beck has been for the last 42 years (from 1982 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Beck by gender

Based on the last 42 years of data, Beck is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 97% of people named Beck being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 210 male babies and 28 female babies born with the name Beck.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 28 baby girls were named Beck in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Beck

The name Beck has its origins in the Germanic language family, specifically from the Old English word "bæcc" or the Middle Low German word "bek," both meaning "stream" or "brook." It is believed to have emerged as a name during the medieval period in regions where these languages were spoken, such as parts of England and Germany.

The name Beck was initially used as a topographic surname, referring to a person who lived near a stream or brook. Over time, it transitioned into being used as a given name, particularly in English-speaking countries and regions influenced by Germanic culture.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Beck can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landowners in medieval England. The entry "Beccus" is listed, which is believed to be an early variation of the name Beck.

In the 12th century, a German monk named Bekkos (also spelled Beccos or Beccus) was a prominent figure in the Orthodox Church and played a significant role in the Council of Lyons in 1274, which aimed to reconcile the Eastern and Western churches.

During the Renaissance period, a notable figure named Beck von Leopoldsdorf (c. 1470-1540) was a German mathematician and astronomer who contributed to the development of trigonometry and the study of planetary motions.

In the 16th century, a Dutch painter named Jacobus Beck (c. 1535-1597) gained recognition for his landscape paintings and depictions of rural life in the Netherlands.

In the 19th century, Johann Philipp Beck (1766-1849) was a German musician and composer who wrote operas, symphonies, and chamber music, contributing to the development of Romantic-era classical music.

Another prominent figure with the name Beck was the German philosopher and author Ludwig Beck (1880-1944), who was a member of the German Resistance movement against the Nazi regime during World War II.

These examples illustrate the long-standing presence of the name Beck across various regions, professions, and historical periods, reflecting its Germanic roots and the diverse individuals who have borne this name throughout history.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Beck was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Beck, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!