Berkeley
Gender-neutral name · English · Scottish
Meaningbirch wood clearing · English
- US rank
- #2,485
- Syllables
- 3
- Peak
- #1,761 in 2017
71 babies were named Berkeley in the US in 2025. It has dropped 577 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1923–2025
US births per million boys, 1913–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Berkeley you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 22,624 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Berkeley, 71 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Berkeley would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryBerkeley first shows up in US birth records in 1913, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 112 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 2017, when it reached #1,761.
- Then vs nowBerkeley is 3.7× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 82,645 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 22,624.
- TrendBerkeley has slipped 577 places over the last five years and now sits at #2,485. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Boy or girlBerkeley is given to both boys and girls: 88% of the 81 babies named Berkeley in 2025 were girls. That makes it one of the names that truly works for either.
- MeaningIn English, Berkeley means “birch wood clearing”. Our records link it to English and Scottish roots.
About the name Berkeley
Berkeley is a gender-neutral name of English and Scottish origin meaning “birch wood clearing”. It has 8 letters and 3 syllables, starting with B and ending in “-ley”. US birth records list Berkeley for girls from 1923 to 2025, in 49 of those 103 years. Its best year was 2017, when it ranked #1,761 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #2,485, with 71 babies. Of the 81 US babies named Berkeley in 2025, 88% were girls and 12% were boys.
Origin:English namesScottish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 0.6 | 1,707,317 girls |
| 1970s | 1.2 | 826,446 girls |
| 1980s | 4.0 | 251,256 girls |
| 1990s | 8.0 | 125,156 girls |
| 2000s | 20 | 49,652 girls |
| 2010s | 55 | 18,070 girls |
| 2020s | 51 | 19,576 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 9.0 | 111,643 boys |
| 1920s | 8.1 | 123,457 boys |
| 1930s | 6.9 | 144,092 boys |
| 1940s | 4.3 | 230,947 boys |
| 1950s | 3.4 | 296,736 boys |
| 1960s | 2.9 | 340,136 boys |
| 1970s | 2.8 | 361,011 boys |
| 1980s | 1.6 | 625,000 boys |
| 1990s | 4.2 | 238,663 boys |
| 2000s | 5.4 | 186,220 boys |
| 2010s | 9.1 | 110,375 boys |
| 2020s | 6.3 | 159,151 boys |
More English names
- Girl name: Olivia · olive tree
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
Questions about the name Berkeley
What does the name Berkeley mean?
Berkeley means “birch wood clearing” in English.
What is the origin of the name Berkeley?
Berkeley has English, Scottish roots in our records. Other English names include Olivia, Charlotte, Oliver.
Is Berkeley a boy or girl name?
Both. Berkeley is used for boys and girls: in 2025, 88% of US babies named Berkeley were girls.
How popular is the name Berkeley?
Berkeley ranked #2,485 for US girls in 2025, given to 71 babies. Its best year was 2017 (#1,761).