Brooklyn

Meaning, origin and U.S. popularity at a glance
124,665 Total Births
145 Years of Data
2011 Peak Popularity Year
7,257 Peak Births

Generational story

Where Brooklyn stands across generations

Browse all generations →
Strongest generation Generation Alpha

Girl · 45th of 30,306

Generation Alpha Boy #2,200 · Girl #45

Rankings for U.S. births from 2013 to 2024.

Recent direction Boy Stable · Girl Declining

Based on the most recent three-year movement in the national data.

Meaning, origin & U.S. popularity

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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.

Etymology & cultural background Open the full meaning, origin, history, and variants

Etymology & Cultural Background

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Pronunciation

/ˈbrʊk.lɪn/

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Origin

Dutch

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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.

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Meaning

broken land, marshland

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Language Evolution

Breukelen (Dutch), Brooklyn (English)

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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.

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Variants & Derivatives

Brooklynn, Brooklyne, Brooke

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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.

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Famous People

Jay-Z, Barbra Streisand, Michael Jordan, Spike Lee

Trend Analysis

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Boy Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Stable
25-Year Trend: Relatively Stable
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Girl Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Declining
25-Year Trend: Consistently Rising

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Key Insights

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Popularity Trend

Highly Popular name with 7,257 peak births in 2011

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Geographic Spread

Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in Utah

Historical Span

Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends

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Generational Impact

Influenced 8 different American generations with varying popularity

Alternative spellings & similar sounds

Compare 4 names that share a similar pronunciation but use different spellings.

Historical Birth Statistics

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

Full popularity table across American generations 8 generation and gender records

Popularity Across American Generations

Generation Gender Rank Recorded births
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