Brooklyn Girl

Popularity: #115 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: BROOK-lin //ˈbrʊk.lɪn//

Origin: English; Dutch

Meaning: English: 'broken land'; Dutch: 'small stream'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Brooklyn has its roots in the Dutch language, originating from the word "Breukelen," which refers to a town in the Netherlands. The etymology can be traced back to the early 17th century when Dutch settlers established the area that would become Brooklyn, New York.

The name itself is derived from the combination of the Dutch words "broek," meaning marsh or wetland, and "l" indicating a diminutive or locality, thus translating to "broken land" or "marshy land." This geographical significance reflects the area's landscape at the time of settlement. Historically, Brooklyn was incorporated as a village in 1816 and later became a city in 1834 before its consolidation with New York City in 1898.

The name gained prominence as the borough developed into a significant cultural and economic hub. Notable historical milestones include the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge in the late 19th century, which symbolized the connection between Brooklyn and Manhattan, and the establishment of various cultural institutions that contributed to the borough's identity.

Culturally, the name Brooklyn has come to symbolize a vibrant urban environment, often associated with artistic movements and diverse communities. Its resonance is reflected in literature, music, and the arts, where the name evokes a sense of place and identity.

The name has also inspired various diminutive forms, such as Brookie, which carry a more personal touch while maintaining the original's geographical and cultural significance. Overall, Brooklyn embodies a rich historical narrative that intertwines with the development of New York City and its diverse heritage.

Famous people named Brooklyn

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

We also feature individuals named Brooklyn 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.

Brooklyn Decker is a model and actress best known for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, Just Go with It, and Battleship.

Brooklyn Sudano is an actress and singer best known for My Wife and Kids, Rain, and the TV series Taken.

Fictional characters named Brooklyn

The following list of fictional characters named Brooklyn 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.

Brooklyn is a fictional character from the animated television series Gargoyles. He is a member of the Manhattan Clan and serves as a key figure in their adventures.

Sibling suggestions

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

BrookeBriannaBaileyBrynBlytheBridgetBlair

Similar names

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

BrielleKaitlynMadisonAubreyHarperMackenzieSophieTaylor

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Brooklyn was first seen in the United States in 1972.

Brooklyn has ranked as high as #80 nationally, which occurred in 2011, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Brooklyn 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 Brooklyn 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 Brooklyn.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 2,337 37 2,300
2024 2,562 62 2,500
2023 2,928 63 2,865
2022 3,269 53 3,216
2021 3,597 52 3,545
2020 4,093 61 4,032
2019 4,411 95 4,316
2018 4,716 64 4,652
2017 5,284 71 5,213
2016 6,039 68 5,971
2015 6,400 67 6,333
2014 6,910 68 6,842
2013 6,953 47 6,906
2012 6,859 63 6,796
2011 7,257 79 7,178
2010 6,217 87 6,130
2009 5,797 120 5,677
2008 5,418 101 5,317
2007 4,972 85 4,887
2006 4,794 75 4,719
2005 4,206 74 4,132
2004 3,342 76 3,266
2003 2,969 44 2,925
2002 2,228 18 2,210
2001 1,924 19 1,905
2000 1,864 33 1,831
1999 1,716 27 1,689
1998 1,573 15 1,558
1997 1,346 18 1,328
1996 1,027 17 1,010
1995 790 16 774
1994 675 17 658
1993 546 5 541
1992 435 9 426
1991 304 10 294
1990 215 5 210
1989 172 8 164
1988 139 0 139
1987 106 6 100
1986 96 6 90
1985 79 5 74
1984 69 0 69
1983 78 0 78
1982 78 7 71
1981 60 0 60
1980 53 0 53
1979 50 5 45
1978 32 0 32
1977 26 0 26
1976 11 0 11
1975 12 0 12
1974 8 0 8
1973 7 0 7
1972 6 0 6

Top States for Brooklyn (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 249
10%
TX 241
10%
FL 133
5%
MI 112
4%
PA 108
4%
GA 106
4%
NC 99
4%
IL 85
3%
OH 77
3%
NY 72
3%
AL 72
3%
TN 66
3%
VA 61
2%
WI 59
2%
IN 59
2%
SC 54
2%
WA 50
2%
CO 50
2%
UT 49
2%
MO 48
2%
AZ 47
2%
LA 47
2%
MS 42
2%
MN 38
2%
MA 36
1%
MD 33
1%
NJ 33
1%
KY 33
1%
IA 32
1%
OR 32
1%
AR 31
1%
NV 27
1%
OK 23
1%
ID 22
1%
KS 22
1%
WV 19
1%
NM 18
1%
NE 17
1%
CT 17
1%
MT 16
1%
ND 10
0%
SD 10
0%
NH 9
0%
ME 8
0%
RI 6
0%
WY 6
0%
DC 6
0%
DE 6
0%
HI 5
0%