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Brooke

♀ Girl

Pronounced BROOK /brʊk/High

Meaning: From the Old English word 'broc', meaning a small stream or watercourse. Originally a topographic surname for someone living near a brook.High

In 30 seconds: Brooke is a sleek, one-syllable nature name evoking cool, clear running water. It surged in popularity through the 1980s and 1990s and retains a fresh, modern elegance.
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Origin HighOld English
MeaningFrom the Old English word 'broc', meaning a small stream or watercourse. Originally a topographic surname for someone living near a brook.
U.S. rank (2025)#313 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births972 girls (0.06% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1996
Total births (all-time)≈ 198,489

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199619342025

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

History & Origin

The word broc appears in Old English documents as early as the ninth century, denoting a small natural stream. As surnames became hereditary in medieval England, Brook and Brooke attached to families living near such watercourses. The double-e spelling, Brooke, eventually became the more common form in both surnames and, later, given names.

As a first name, Brooke gained momentum in the mid-twentieth century United States, propelled by cultural figures including actress Brooke Adams and model-actress Brooke Shields. It reached peak popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s, consistently ranking in the top 60 for American girls. Today Brooke remains stylish, appreciated for its brevity, natural imagery, and strong sound.

Did you know? Brooke was almost exclusively a surname until actress Brooke Shields catapulted it into the top 100 girls' names in the United States during the early 1980s.
Overall data confidence 95%
Oxford Dictionary of English Surnames — Origin and topographic meaning of Brook/BrookeSocial Security Administration Name Data — US popularity trends for Brooke

Variations

BrookBrookie

Nicknames

Brooke

Famous Bearers

  • ★Brooke Shields (1965–)
    American actress and model who helped popularize the name in the 1980s.
  • ★Brooke Burke (1971–)
    American television personality and dancer.

If you like Brooke…

Blake— one-syllable surname-style name with a similarly crisp, modern feel
Paige— one-syllable girl's name with Old English roots and 1990s peak popularity
Sloane— sleek, single-syllable surname-to-first-name crossover with nature adjacent appeal

Frequently Asked

What does the name Brooke mean?

Brooke means 'small stream', derived from the Old English word 'broc' for a watercourse.

How do you pronounce Brooke?

Brooke is pronounced BROOK (/brʊk/), a single syllable rhyming with 'book'.

Is Brooke a boy or girl name?

Brooke is predominantly used as a girl's name today, though Brook appears occasionally for boys.

How popular is Brooke?

Brooke has been in the US top 100 for girls since the 1980s and remains a top-150 name today.