How to say it
BROOKE
brʊk
Feminine
Brooke
Small stream
What it means
An English word name from brook, a small running stream.
Brooke is a nature-and-surname name from the English word brook, a small stream. The final e marks the feminine form, set apart from the surname Brooks. Brooke Shields made it a star name in the late 1970s and 1980s, and it has stayed crisp, clean, and a little preppy ever since. It pairs naturally with the other water-and-place names like Brooklyn.
How to spell Brooke
The standard spelling is Brooke. Common variants include Brook, Brooks, but Brooke is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #43 in 2003, currently #313 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Brooke with an e is the feminine norm; Brook and Brooks lean masculine or surname.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Brooke Shields American actress and model
Spelling variants
- Brook
- Brooks
Names with the same feeling
See Brooke from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Brooke mean?
- An English word name from brook, a small running stream.
- What does Brooke mean in English?
- In English, Brooke means "Small stream." Brooke is a nature-and-surname name from the English word brook, a small stream. The final e marks the feminine form, set apart from the surname Brooks. Brooke Shields made it a star name in the late 1970s and 1980s, and it has stayed crisp, clean, and a little preppy ever since. It pairs naturally with the other water-and-place names like Brooklyn.
- How do you pronounce Brooke?
- Brooke is pronounced brʊk. Say it as BROOKE, with the stress on the "brooke" syllable.
- How do you spell Brooke?
- The standard spelling is Brooke. Common spelling variants include Brook, Brooks.
- Is Brooke a boy or girl name?
- Brooke is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Brooke?
- Brooke ranked #313 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.