Brooklyn Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Brooklyn originates from the Dutch word 'Breukelen', meaning broken land or marshland. The name evolved from its Dutch roots into its current English form. Brooklyn is associated with vibrancy and cultural diversity, and it is linked to notable figures in music, film, and sports. There is no biblical relevance connected to the name.
The name Brooklyn is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Alpha generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been consistently rising. From 2020-2022, Brooklyn has been stalled for male in MidWest, too rising for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, falling for female in Northeast, falling for male in South, too rising for female in South, stalled for male in West, too rising for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, too falling for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, too falling for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too falling for female in South, stalled for male in West, too falling for female in West. Across generations, 'Brooklyn' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 10718th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 5860th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2103rd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2200th out of 23106 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 4533rd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 676th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 84th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 45th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Brooklyn' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Brooklyn"
Pronunciation
/ˈbrʊk.lɪn/
Origin
Dutch
Etymology
The name 'Brooklyn' is derived from the Dutch 'Breukelen', which means 'broken land' or 'marshland'. This name was given to the area by Dutch settlers in the 17th century.
Meaning
broken land, marshland
Language Evolution
Breukelen (Dutch), Brooklyn (English)
Historical Usage
Brooklyn gained popularity as a name for the area in the late 17th century when it was established as a town by Dutch colonists. The name continued to be used even after the British took control.
Variants & Derivatives
Brooklynn, Brooklyne, Brooke
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Brooklyn is perceived as a trendy and vibrant borough of New York City, known for its diverse culture, art scene, and food.
Famous People
Jay-Z, Barbra Streisand, Michael Jordan, Spike Lee
Explore More Brooklyn Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Brooklyn"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Brooklyn"
"Brooklyn" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 10718th of 10718 | 5 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 5860th of 16616 | 110 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 2103rd of 24088 | 934 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2200th of 23106 | 769 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 4533rd of 19264 | 200 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 676th of 27321 | 4,757 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 84th of 35406 | 61,543 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 45th of 30306 | 56,347 |
Regional Popularity of "Brooklyn" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
57.14% 2618th/4582 |
40.38% 2085th/5164 |
25.54% 1868th/7313 |
25.93% 1935th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
79.99% 3187th/3984 |
44.57% 2000th/4487 |
37.48% 2557th/6822 |
28.25% 1773rd/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Brooklyn" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
100.00% 2937th/2937 |
- |
85.42% 3005th/3518 |
100.00% 4044th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
15.12% 557th/3685 |
43.66% 1954th/4475 |
9.78% 508th/5194 |
15.47% 977th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
1.11% 51st/4582 |
4.61% 238th/5164 |
1.03% 75th/7313 |
1.11% 83rd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
0.83% 33rd/3984 |
2.18% 98th/4487 |
0.60% 41st/6822 |
0.78% 49th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Brooklyn"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Brooklyn" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.