Berkley Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Berkley originates from Old English, meaning 'birch wood or clearing'. It evolved from the historical forms Beorcleah and Berkeley. It is associated with traits of nature and intellect, lacking any biblical relevance. The name gained prominence in the 19th century and remains a popular choice today, notably linked to educational institutions and notable figures.
The name Berkley is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Alpha generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Berkley has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Berkley' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1572nd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1571st out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1966th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3226th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 5335th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4102nd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2946th out of 23106 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 12526th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 12822nd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 5954th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1926th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 959th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Berkley' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Berkley"
Pronunciation
/ˈbɜːrkli/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Berkley is believed to be derived from the Old English elements 'beorc' meaning 'birch' and 'leah' meaning 'clearing' or 'woodland'.
Meaning
Birch wood or clearing
Language Evolution
Beorcleah, Berkeley, Berkley
Historical Usage
The name Berkley gained popularity in the 19th century, often associated with the prestigious Berkeley family in England and various locations named Berkeley.
Variants & Derivatives
Berkeley, Berklee
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Berkley is perceived as a modern and trendy name, often associated with intellectualism due to its connection with institutions like the University of California, Berkeley.
Famous People
George Berkeley - Philosopher, Berkeley Breathed - Cartoonist and author
Explore More Berkley Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Berkley"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Berkley"
"Berkley" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1572nd of 7545 | 358 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1571st of 6773 | 364 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1966th of 7552 | 313 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 3226th of 10718 | 161 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 5335th of 16616 | 130 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 4102nd of 24088 | 346 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2946th of 23106 | 492 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 12526th of 12526 | 5 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 12822nd of 19264 | 23 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 5954th of 27321 | 216 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1926th of 35406 | 1,609 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 959th of 30306 | 3,355 |
Regional Popularity of "Berkley" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
45.27% 1071st/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
48.79% 1148th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
63.27% 1409th/2227 |
- |
50.61% 1444th/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
52.56% 3844th/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
71.34% 2842nd/3984 |
- |
62.77% 4282nd/6822 |
- |
Regional Popularity of "Berkley" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
69.48% 3609th/5194 |
- |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
34.68% 1589th/4582 |
- |
20.07% 1468th/7313 |
30.20% 2254th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
14.56% 580th/3984 |
59.97% 2691st/4487 |
13.00% 887th/6822 |
21.00% 1318th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Berkley"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Berkley" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.