Find out how popular the first name Brooklyn has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Brooklyn by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Brooklyn is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 99% of people named Brooklyn being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 2,850 female babies and 62 male babies born with the name Brooklyn.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 62 baby boys were named Brooklyn in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Brooklyn

The name Brooklyn is an English given name that originated as a toponymic surname derived from the borough of Brooklyn in New York City. The name Brooklyn itself is derived from the Dutch word "Breuckelen," which means "broken land" or "marshland."

The earliest recorded use of the name Brooklyn dates back to the late 19th century, when it started to gain popularity as a given name, particularly in the United States. The name was likely inspired by the growing prominence of the Borough of Brooklyn, which was once an independent city before becoming part of New York City in 1898.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Brooklyn was Brooklyn Dodgers baseball player Brooklyn "Bucky" Harris, who was born in 1896 and played for the Dodgers from 1919 to 1923. Another notable early bearer of the name was Brooklyn Denny, an American vaudeville performer and actress born in 1906.

In the 20th century, the name Brooklyn became more widely used, though it remained relatively uncommon. One of the most famous people with the name Brooklyn was Brooklyn Dodgers baseball player Brooklyn "Babe" Cavedert, who played for the team from 1923 to 1935.

Another notable individual with the name Brooklyn was Brooklyn Roosevelt, the daughter of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor Roosevelt. Brooklyn Roosevelt was born in 1924 and was a writer and activist who worked for various humanitarian causes throughout her life.

In the latter half of the 20th century, the name Brooklyn gained wider popularity, particularly among parents seeking unique and unconventional names. One of the most famous modern-day individuals with the name Brooklyn is Brooklyn Beckham, the son of famous soccer player David Beckham and fashion designer Victoria Beckham, who was born in 1999.

While the name Brooklyn was initially associated with the borough of the same name in New York City, it has since transcended its geographical origins and has become a popular given name around the world, appreciated for its unique sound and cultural associations.

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

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

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