Brook Unisex

Popularity: #916 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: brook /brʊk/

Origin: English; Old English

Meaning: English: small stream; Old English: brook

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Brook originates from the Old English word "broc," which means "a small stream or brook." This term can be traced back to Proto-Germanic roots, specifically the word "brōkō," which also referred to a stream or watercourse. The transition into Middle English saw the spelling evolve into "brooke," which retained the same meaning.

As English developed, the name began to be used as a given name, particularly in the context of nature and the pastoral landscape of England, reflecting the importance of water sources in rural life. Historically, the name Brook has been associated with various cultural and literary figures.

While it does not have a direct biblical reference, the imagery of brooks and streams is prevalent in biblical texts, symbolizing life and purity. The name gained further resonance in the 19th century, coinciding with the Romantic movement, which celebrated nature and the beauty of the natural world.

This period saw a rise in the use of nature-inspired names, including Brook, as families sought to connect with the pastoral themes prevalent in literature and art. Culturally, the name Brook embodies a sense of tranquility and fluidity, often associated with the calming presence of water.

It has been used in various literary works and poetry, reinforcing its connection to nature and the serene qualities of flowing water. The diminutive form "Brooke" has also emerged, which has been used interchangeably with Brook, further enriching its usage in literature and culture.

Overall, the name Brook carries a historical significance tied to nature, language evolution, and cultural expression.

Famous people named Brook

In this section, you will find notable people named Brook. 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 Brook who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Brook 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.

Brook Shields is an actress and model best known for Blue Lagoon, Suddenly Susan, and her work in the fashion industry.

Brook Lopez is a professional basketball player best known for his time with the Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, and being an NBA All-Star.

Fictional characters named Brook

The following list of fictional characters named Brook 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.

Brook is a fictional character from the manga and anime series One Piece. He is a musician and swordsman who joins the Straw Hat Pirates, known for his ability to revive after death and his skeletal appearance.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Brook, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

BlakeBrielleBaileyBrynBriarBlaire

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Brook. 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.

BrookeBrynBlakeBriaBriarBlaireBristolBridgetBellaBeck

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Brook was first seen in the United States in 1915.

Brook has ranked as high as #793 nationally, which occurred in 1980, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana.

In the past 5 years the name Brook has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Brook 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 Brook 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 Brook.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 47 15 32
2024 37 14 23
2023 51 17 34
2022 43 11 32
2021 53 17 36
2020 56 14 42
2019 71 20 51
2018 56 14 42
2017 71 14 57
2016 95 12 83
2015 84 13 71
2014 77 15 62
2013 120 16 104
2012 137 18 119
2011 142 17 125
2010 136 22 114
2009 153 14 139
2008 187 19 168
2007 234 21 213
2006 212 17 195
2005 204 19 185
2004 205 22 183
2003 256 13 243
2002 212 18 194
2001 270 18 252
2000 312 33 279
1999 305 22 283
1998 367 25 342
1997 334 47 287
1996 352 41 311
1995 368 38 330
1994 394 49 345
1993 385 47 338
1992 351 39 312
1991 294 58 236
1990 278 53 225
1989 266 52 214
1988 248 53 195
1987 202 45 157
1986 203 52 151
1985 213 51 162
1984 231 58 173
1983 222 65 157
1982 321 62 259
1981 432 64 368
1980 496 91 405
1979 403 91 312
1978 326 65 261
1977 351 92 259
1976 345 103 242
1975 269 96 173
1974 257 95 162
1973 206 72 134
1972 217 86 131
1971 226 118 108
1970 187 112 75
1969 112 74 38
1968 119 66 53
1967 89 51 38
1966 118 63 55
1965 73 48 25
1964 89 63 26
1963 101 81 20
1962 103 85 18
1961 162 139 23
1960 51 39 12
1959 46 31 15
1958 23 15 8
1957 30 24 6
1956 36 22 14
1955 33 18 15
1954 27 14 13
1953 21 11 10
1952 22 13 9
1951 18 10 8
1950 19 10 9
1949 24 13 11
1948 12 5 7
1947 12 12 0
1946 7 7 0
1945 10 10 0
1944 7 0 7
1943 8 8 0
1941 10 10 0
1940 5 5 0
1939 7 7 0
1938 6 6 0
1937 6 6 0
1935 9 9 0
1932 8 8 0
1931 5 0 5
1929 6 6 0
1918 6 6 0
1916 6 6 0
1915 5 5 0

Top States for Brook (2023)

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 6
100%