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Berkley

♀ Girl

Pronounced BERK-lee /ˈbɜrk.liː/High

Meaning: Variant spelling of Berkeley, from Old English beorc (birch tree) and leah (clearing, meadow, or woodland glade); meaning the birch tree clearing or meadow among birch treesHigh

In 30 seconds: Berkley is a variant of Berkeley, an Old English place-name surname meaning birch tree meadow, used as a girls given name in the United States in the tradition of converting prestigious surnames and place names into first names.
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Origin HighOld English
MeaningVariant spelling of Berkeley, from Old English beorc (birch tree) and leah (clearing, meadow, or woodland glade); meaning the birch tree clearing or meadow among birch trees
U.S. rank (2025)#888 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births301 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2021
Total births (all-time)≈ 5,509

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202119522025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Berkley is a spelling variant of Berkeley, an English surname derived from a place name. The place name comes from Old English beorc (birch tree) and leah (clearing, woodland glade), giving a meaning of birch tree clearing or meadow where birch trees grow. Berkeley in Gloucestershire, England, is where the Berkeley family — one of the great medieval English noble houses — took their name, and it was subsequently given to places in the American colonies. The variant spelling Berkley has been used in the United States as both a surname and a given name.

As a girls given name, Berkley fits within the American tradition of using surname-style names for girls — comparable to Hadley, Kinsley, Paisley, and Hailey. It is more often given to girls than boys in contemporary U.S. usage, distinguished from Berkeley (which skews slightly more unisex). The name carries a hint of Ivy League prestige through its phonetic similarity to UC Berkeley, adding an academic association some parents find appealing. It began appearing notably in U.S. birth records for girls in the 2000s.

Did you know? The Berkeley spelling of this name is famous worldwide due to the University of California, Berkeley — named for the Irish philosopher George Berkeley — and to Berkeley Square in London; the Berkley spelling is predominantly a U.S. given-name variant.
Overall data confidence 88%
Behind the Name — Berkeley — etymology and usage

Variations

BerkeleyBirkleyBerklee

Nicknames

BerkLee

Famous Bearers

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If you like Berkley…

Hadley— two-syllable Old English meadow-name used as a girls surname-style given name
Paisley— two-syllable surname-style girls name with the same contemporary American appeal
Kinsley— two-syllable -ley ending surname-style girls name in the same modern tradition
Hailey— two-syllable -ley ending girls name with comparable chart popularity

Frequently Asked

What does the name Berkley mean?

Berkley is a variant of Berkeley, from Old English meaning birch tree clearing or meadow in a birch forest.

How do you pronounce Berkley?

It is said BERK-lee — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Berkley a boy or girl name?

In current U.S. usage Berkley is given predominantly to girls; Berkeley is more commonly used as a unisex name.

Is Berkley related to Berkeley University?

They share the same root name and pronunciation but the university uses the Berkeley spelling; the Berkley spelling is primarily a given-name variant.