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Berklee

♀ Girl

Pronounced BERK-lee /ˈbɜrk.li/High

Meaning: Birch-tree clearing or meadow; modern -lee spelling of Berkeley, from Old English beorc, 'birch', plus leahHigh

In 30 seconds: Berkeley re-strung for the modern ear: 'birch meadow' in Old English, music school in Boston, and a girls' name with double-e polish.

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Origin HighEnglish, American

MeaningBirch-tree clearing or meadow; modern -lee spelling of Berkeley, from Old English beorc, 'birch', plus leah

U.S. rank (2025)#3135 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births51 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2018

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,242

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Berklee is a modern spelling of Berkeley, the English place name and surname meaning 'birch clearing' — Old English beorc, 'birch', plus leah. The California university town (named for philosopher Bishop George Berkeley) and Boston's Berklee College of Music keep both spellings in the cultural air.

As a girls' name it arrived with the 2010s -lee wave, the double-e form sidestepping the university's gravitas for playground friendliness. It remains rare, smart-sounding, and silver-birch fresh.

Did you know? Berklee College of Music — alma mater of Quincy Jones and John Mayer — chose its spelling backwards: founder Lawrence Berk named it for his son Lee Berk.

Overall data confidence 85%

Oxford Dictionary of British Place Names — Berkeley — place etymology

Variations

BerkeleyBerkleyBerkleigh

Nicknames

BerkBirdie

Famous Bearers

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If you like Berklee…

Berkley— the middle spelling of the same birch meadow

Kinsley— a fellow surname-style 2010s favorite

Brooklyn— the template for collegiate place names on girls

Hadlee— shares the modern double-e -lee finish

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Berklee mean?

Berklee is a modern spelling of Berkeley, from Old English for 'birch-tree clearing or meadow'.

How do you pronounce Berklee?

It's said BERK-lee /ˈbɜrk.li/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Berklee a boy or girl name?

Berklee is used today mainly as a girl's name.

How popular is Berklee?

Berklee is a rare, modern spelling in the U.S.