Brecklyn
Of English origin, a feminine name meaning "brook from the glen".
Name Census estimates that about 733 living Americans carry the first name Brecklyn. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Brecklyn today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Brecklyn births was 2015 (52 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Brecklyn. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
733
~ 1 in 467,605 Americans
Peak year
2015
52 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2024 SSA rank
#7,282
Tracked since 1993
Popularity
Brecklyn: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Brecklyn from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 401 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Brecklyn remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Brecklyn by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Brecklyn during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Brecklyns live
The SSA's state-level files cover 6 states and territories. Texas, Utah, Kansas recorded the most babies named Brecklyn, while Illinois, Georgia, Missouri recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 27 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Brecklyn
The name Brecklyn is a relatively modern invention, with no clear historical roots or derivations from ancient languages or cultures. It appears to be a combination of the English word "breck," meaning a small stream or brook, and the suffix "-lyn," which is commonly used in English given names to add a feminine touch.
There are no known historical references or recordings of the name Brecklyn in ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records. The earliest known examples of the name's usage are from the late 20th century, likely influenced by the trend of creating unique and unconventional names for children.
While the name Brecklyn itself does not have a long history, there are a few notable individuals who have borne this name in recent times. One such person is Brecklyn Payne, an American actress and model known for her roles in television shows like "The Neighborhood" and "Mixed-ish." Another is Brecklyn Schlicht, a former American college basketball player who played for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Beyond these contemporary figures, it is difficult to find any individuals of historical significance who have carried the name Brecklyn. This is likely due to the name's modern origin and relatively recent popularity.
Given its lack of a deep historical background, the name Brecklyn seems to be a product of the modern trend of creating unique and creative names for children. While it may not have the rich heritage of many traditional names, it reflects the individualistic and imaginative spirit of contemporary naming practices.
People
Brecklyn + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Brecklyn as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Brecklyn: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Brecklyn?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 733 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Brecklyn going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 467,605 US residents.
Is Brecklyn a common name?
We classify Brecklyn as "Very Rare". It ranks above 87.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 740 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Brecklyn most popular?
The single biggest year for Brecklyn was 2015, when 52 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Brecklyn is about 12 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Brecklyn a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Brecklyn in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.