Berkeley
From Old English beorc (“birch”) + leah (“meadow, leigh”).
Every Berkeley since 1913 — 2,973 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Berkeley
Berkeley is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #2,490 in 2025 with 71 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1913, 2,973 American babies have been named Berkeley — about 70% girls and 30% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2016, when 133 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Berkeley stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Berkeley year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 71 | #2,490 | 10 | #7,743 |
| 2024 | 76 | #2,392 | 7 | #10,043 |
| 2023 | 81 | #2,273 | 11 | #7,347 |
| 2022 | 80 | #2,321 | 15 | #5,912 |
| 2021 | 89 | #2,120 | 12 | #6,757 |
| 2020 | 100 | #1,909 | 10 | #7,588 |
| 2019 | 98 | #1,973 | 18 | #5,181 |
| 2018 | 115 | #1,776 | 17 | #5,349 |
| 2017 | 119 | #1,763 | 14 | #6,094 |
| 2016 | 117 | #1,778 | 16 | #5,591 |
| 2015 | 108 | #1,885 | 17 | #5,319 |
| 2014 | 85 | #2,216 | 14 | #6,029 |
| 2013 | 84 | #2,218 | 21 | #4,484 |
| 2012 | 77 | #2,403 | 20 | #4,710 |
| 2011 | 88 | #2,158 | 21 | #4,525 |
| 2010 | 76 | #2,455 | 12 | #6,734 |
| 2009 | 56 | #3,050 | 10 | #7,751 |
| 2008 | 56 | #3,062 | 16 | #5,520 |
| 2007 | 48 | #3,434 | 7 | #9,888 |
| 2006 | 43 | #3,626 | 9 | #8,070 |
| 2005 | 45 | #3,373 | 13 | #5,908 |
| 2004 | 30 | #4,511 | 16 | #5,036 |
| 2003 | 24 | #5,109 | 10 | #6,782 |
| 2002 | 21 | #5,480 | 10 | #6,590 |
| 2001 | 29 | #4,225 | 8 | #7,606 |
| 2000 | 22 | #5,169 | 8 | #7,514 |
| 1995 | 18 | #5,246 | 9 | #5,969 |
| 1990 | 8 | #9,340 | — | — |
| 1985 | 8 | #7,628 | 7 | #5,199 |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | 7 | #7,239 | 5 | #5,553 |
| 1970 | — | — | 7 | #3,878 |
| 1965 | — | — | 6 | #3,569 |
| 1960 | — | — | 6 | #3,695 |
| 1955 | — | — | 8 | #2,982 |
| 1950 | — | — | 5 | #3,734 |
| 1945 | — | — | 8 | #2,583 |
| 1940 | — | — | 7 | #2,901 |
| 1935 | — | — | 5 | #3,693 |
| 1930 | — | — | 9 | #2,797 |
| 1925 | — | — | 5 | #4,263 |
| 1920 | — | — | 12 | #2,472 |
| 1915 | — | — | 7 | #3,117 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Berkeley mean?
From Old English beorc (“birch”) + leah (“meadow, leigh”).
How popular is the name Berkeley in 2025?
Berkeley ranked #2,490 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 71 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Berkeley?
2,973 babies have been named Berkeley in the United States since 1913, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Berkeley most popular?
Berkeley peaked in 2016, when 133 newborns received the name.
Is Berkeley a boy or girl name?
Berkeley is used for both: about 70% of babies named Berkeley have been girls and 30% boys.
Is the name Berkeley rising or falling?
Berkeley has been roughly stable over the past decade.