Where does the name Brooke come from?

Brooke is a girl name of Old English origin.

Is Brooke a boy or a girl name?

Brooke is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 99% of children given the name Brooke are girls and 1% are boys.

How popular is the name Brooke in 2023?

Brooke ranks #299 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1996 with 6,749 babies.

How do you pronounce Brooke?

Brooke is pronounced BROOK (1 syllable).

What are common spellings of Brooke?

Brooke is also written as Brook, Brooks.

A name from Old English · Girl

Brooke

From Old English broc meaning 'stream' or 'small river' — originally a surname for someone who lived beside one. Used as a girls' given name from the 1960s, surged after Brooke Shields's 1980s stardom.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 109-year arc in numbers.

196,520 U.S. births recorded from 1914–2023.

Popularity · 1914–2023

1,033 births in 2023

1914 1968 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

BFrom Old English broc meaning 'stream' or 'small river' — originally a surname for someone who lived beside one. Used as a girls' given name from the 1960s, surged after Brooke Shields's 1980s stardom.

Variants & spellings

2 ways to spell "Brooke".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Brook Most common Brooks

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Brooke.

B
Brooke Shields (actress and model)
B
Brooke Smith (actress)
B
Brooke Burke (TV host)

Quick answers

People often ask about Brooke.

What does the name Brooke mean?: Brooke means from Old English broc meaning 'stream' or 'small river' — originally a surname for someone who lived beside one. Used as a girls' given name from the 1960s, surged after Brooke Shields's 1980s stardom.
Where does the name Brooke come from?: Brooke is a girl name of Old English origin.
Is Brooke a boy or a girl name?: Brooke is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 99% of children given the name Brooke are girls and 1% are boys.
How popular is the name Brooke in 2023?: Brooke ranks #299 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1996 with 6,749 babies.
How do you pronounce Brooke?: Brooke is pronounced BROOK (1 syllable).
What are common spellings of Brooke?: Brooke is also written as Brook, Brooks.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.