Find out how popular the first name Berkeley has been for the last 49 years (from 1975 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Berkeley by gender

Based on the last 49 years of data, Berkeley is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 81% of people named Berkeley being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 81 female babies and 11 male babies born with the name Berkeley.

The history of the first name Berkeley

The name Berkeley is an Old English given name with origins tracing back to the 8th century. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon words "berc" meaning birch tree and "leah" meaning meadow or clearing, essentially translating to "meadow of birch trees." This name was commonly used in areas of England where birch trees were prevalent, particularly in the West Country region.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Berkeley dates back to the 9th century, appearing in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. This historical record documents a battle fought in 835 AD between the forces of King Egbert of Wessex and the Britons, referencing a location called "Berclea."

In the 11th century, the name gained prominence with the rise of the Berkeley family, a noble English house that took their surname from the town of Berkeley in Gloucestershire. Robert FitzHarding, born in 1092, was a prominent member of this family and is considered one of the earliest examples of the name Berkeley being used as a given name.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Berkeley was associated with several notable individuals. One such figure was Thomas de Berkeley, born in 1245, who served as Lord of Berkeley and fought in the Barons' War against King Henry III. Another was Maurice de Berkeley, born in 1330, who served as a knight and fought in the Hundred Years' War.

During the Renaissance period, the name Berkeley continued to be used, particularly among the English gentry and nobility. One notable bearer of the name was Sir William Berkeley, born in 1605, who served as the Governor of Virginia during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, the name Berkeley gained philosophical significance with the renowned philosopher George Berkeley, born in 1685. He is best known for his theory of immaterialism, which holds that physical objects exist only in the mind.

Other notable individuals with the first name Berkeley include the American architect Berkeley Bunbury, born in 1861, and the British artist Berkeley Sutcliffe, born in 1904.

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 Berkeley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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