How to say it
BROOK · lyn
ˈbrʊk.lɪn
Feminine
Brooklyn
Broken land
What it means
From the Dutch Breukelen (a village in the Netherlands), 'broken land' or 'marshland.' The borough of Brooklyn in New York City (originally Dutch Breukelen) is the dominant cultural anchor; David and Victoria Beckham named their son Brooklyn (1999) and it took off.
Brooklyn comes from the Dutch Breukelen, a village in the Netherlands whose name probably means 'broken land' or 'marshland.' The Dutch West India Company named the New Amsterdam settlement after the original village in 1646; the British anglicized it to Brooklyn after taking New York from the Dutch in 1664. As a given name Brooklyn is recent and American: David and Victoria Beckham named their first son Brooklyn (born 1999, conceived during the World Cup in Brooklyn, that's their account), and the name spread rapidly thereafter. It's been in the US top 100 since 2009, predominantly feminine in US records but appears for both. Common short: Brook.
How to spell Brooklyn
The standard spelling is Brooklyn. Common variants include Brooklynn, Brooklynne, but Brooklyn is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #21 in 2011, currently #118 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
- Pop culture
Brooklyn (the New York borough) is the dominant US association; the Beckhams' eldest son Brooklyn Beckham (1999) sparked the first-name surge.
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.
- Brooklyn (NYC borough) New York City's most populous borough, originally Dutch Breukelen
- Brooklyn Beckham Photographer and chef, David and Victoria Beckham's eldest
Spelling variants
- Brooklynn
- Brooklynne
Names with the same feeling
See Brooklyn from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Brooklyn mean?
- From the Dutch Breukelen (a village in the Netherlands), 'broken land' or 'marshland.' The borough of Brooklyn in New York City (originally Dutch Breukelen) is the dominant cultural anchor; David and Victoria Beckham named their son Brooklyn (1999) and it took off.
- What does Brooklyn mean in Dutch?
- In Dutch, Brooklyn means "Broken land." Brooklyn comes from the Dutch Breukelen, a village in the Netherlands whose name probably means 'broken land' or 'marshland.' The Dutch West India Company named the New Amsterdam settlement after the original village in 1646; the British anglicized it to Brooklyn after taking New York from the Dutch in 1664. As a given name Brooklyn is recent and American: David and Victoria Beckham named their first son Brooklyn (born 1999, conceived during the World Cup in Brooklyn, that's their account), and the name spread rapidly thereafter. It's been in the US top 100 since 2009, predominantly feminine in US records but appears for both. Common short: Brook.
- How do you pronounce Brooklyn?
- Brooklyn is pronounced ˈbrʊk.lɪn. Say it as BROOK-lyn, with the stress on the "brook" syllable.
- How do you spell Brooklyn?
- The standard spelling is Brooklyn. Common spelling variants include Brooklynn, Brooklynne.
- Is Brooklyn a boy or girl name?
- Brooklyn is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Brooklyn?
- Brooklyn ranked #118 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.