Berlin Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: BUR-lin /ˈbɜːrlɪn/
Origin: German; English
Meaning: German: 'borderland'; English: 'from Berlin'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Berlin is believed to have originated from the Slavic word "berl", which means "swamp" or "marsh". This etymology reflects the geographical features of the region where the city of Berlin is located, as it was historically characterized by wetlands.
The name was first recorded in the 13th century, when the city was founded and began to grow as a significant settlement. The transition of the name into English likely occurred through the influence of German immigrants and the increasing prominence of Berlin as a cultural and political center in Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Historically, Berlin has been a pivotal location in various significant events. It became the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia in the 18th century and later the capital of the German Empire in 1871.
The city played a crucial role during the World Wars and was a focal point during the Cold War, symbolized by the Berlin Wall, which divided East and West Berlin from 1961 until its fall in 1989. This tumultuous history has imbued the name Berlin with connotations of resilience and transformation, reflecting the city's ability to adapt and thrive despite challenges.
Culturally, the name Berlin resonates with artistic and intellectual movements, as the city has been home to numerous influential figures in literature, music, and philosophy. It is often associated with the avant-garde and progressive thought, particularly during the early 20th century.
The name evokes a sense of cosmopolitanism and cultural richness, making it a symbol of diversity and innovation. While diminutive forms of the name are not commonly noted, the name itself carries a weight of historical significance and cultural depth that has contributed to its endurance over the centuries.
Famous people named Berlin
In this section, you will find notable people named Berlin. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Berlin who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Berlin who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Berlin is a city known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and significant contributions to art and music.
Berlin is a band best known for their hit song "Take My Breath Away" from the film Top Gun.
Fictional characters named Berlin
The following list of fictional characters named Berlin is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Berlin is a fictional character from the TV series Money Heist (La Casa de Papel). He is a master thief and the older brother of the main protagonist, known for his charm and strategic mind.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Berlin, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Berlin. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Berlin was first seen in the United States in 1899.
Berlin has ranked as high as #3434 nationally, which occurred in 2011, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Utah, Kentucky, and Virginia.
In the past 5 years the name Berlin has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Berlin is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Berlin was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Berlin.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 58 | 19 | 39 |
| 2024 | 83 | 25 | 58 |
| 2023 | 71 | 24 | 47 |
| 2022 | 89 | 33 | 56 |
| 2021 | 82 | 26 | 56 |
| 2020 | 91 | 30 | 61 |
| 2019 | 64 | 17 | 47 |
| 2018 | 74 | 11 | 63 |
| 2017 | 71 | 9 | 62 |
| 2016 | 80 | 5 | 75 |
| 2015 | 87 | 11 | 76 |
| 2014 | 91 | 5 | 86 |
| 2013 | 80 | 5 | 75 |
| 2012 | 79 | 7 | 72 |
| 2011 | 102 | 5 | 97 |
| 2010 | 96 | 6 | 90 |
| 2009 | 89 | 5 | 84 |
| 2008 | 82 | 7 | 75 |
| 2007 | 69 | 0 | 69 |
| 2006 | 72 | 6 | 66 |
| 2005 | 55 | 7 | 48 |
| 2004 | 61 | 5 | 56 |
| 2003 | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| 2002 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 2001 | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| 2000 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1999 | 22 | 7 | 15 |
| 1998 | 17 | 6 | 11 |
| 1997 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 1996 | 26 | 7 | 19 |
| 1995 | 25 | 7 | 18 |
| 1994 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1993 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| 1992 | 23 | 8 | 15 |
| 1991 | 28 | 6 | 22 |
| 1990 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| 1989 | 26 | 12 | 14 |
| 1988 | 19 | 6 | 13 |
| 1987 | 14 | 5 | 9 |
| 1986 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1985 | 13 | 6 | 7 |
| 1983 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 1982 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1981 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1979 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1978 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1977 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1976 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1973 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1972 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1971 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1970 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1969 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1968 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1967 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1966 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1965 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1964 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1963 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1962 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1961 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1960 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1959 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1958 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1957 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1956 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1955 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1954 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1953 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1952 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1951 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1950 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1949 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1948 | 22 | 17 | 5 |
| 1947 | 20 | 15 | 5 |
| 1946 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1945 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1944 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1943 | 28 | 23 | 5 |
| 1942 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1941 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 1940 | 29 | 24 | 5 |
| 1939 | 27 | 27 | 0 |
| 1938 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 1937 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1936 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 1935 | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| 1934 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1933 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1932 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1931 | 30 | 30 | 0 |
| 1930 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1929 | 25 | 25 | 0 |
| 1928 | 28 | 28 | 0 |
| 1927 | 33 | 27 | 6 |
| 1926 | 38 | 38 | 0 |
| 1925 | 36 | 36 | 0 |
| 1924 | 39 | 34 | 5 |
| 1923 | 41 | 33 | 8 |
| 1922 | 44 | 38 | 6 |
| 1921 | 47 | 42 | 5 |
| 1920 | 52 | 42 | 10 |
| 1919 | 37 | 37 | 0 |
| 1918 | 45 | 35 | 10 |
| 1917 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1916 | 42 | 42 | 0 |
| 1915 | 29 | 29 | 0 |
| 1914 | 27 | 27 | 0 |
| 1913 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1912 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1911 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1910 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1909 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1899 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Top States for Berlin (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 20 | |
| FL | 6 | |
| TX | 6 |