The first name Berkeley
A unisex name from English meaning “birch”, “meadow”, “leigh”.
Pronounced /ˈbɝkli/ 2 syllables Unisex Also a surname
Meaning and origin
English origin
Berkeley means “birch”, “meadow”, “leigh” in English.
From Old English beorc (“birch”) + leah (“meadow, leigh”). Equivalent to birch + -ley (“lea”).
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Berkeley at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 71 girls born in the United States were named Berkeley, the 2,490th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 2017, when 119 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Nicknames and spellings
Other spellings and forms
- Barclay
- Barclift
- Barkley
Famous people named Berkeley
2 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Berkeley L. BunkerAmerican politician (1906-1999)
- Nick MasonEnglish drummer, born 1944
More English unisex names
Questions
- What does the name Berkeley mean?
- Berkeley means “birch”, “meadow”, “leigh” in English.
- What is the origin of the name Berkeley?
- From Old English beorc (“birch”) + leah (“meadow, leigh”). Equivalent to birch + -ley (“lea”).
- Is Berkeley a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 2,973 US babies named Berkeley since 1880, 70% were girls and 30% boys.
- When was Berkeley most popular?
- 2017 in the United States, when 119 babies were named Berkeley, its highest rank at 1,763rd.
- How do you pronounce Berkeley?
- Berkeley is /ˈbɝkli/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Berkeley?
- Barclay, Barclift and Barkley.
- Is Berkeley also a surname?
- Yes. Berkeley is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.