Given name & surname
Berkley
“birch tree”·“wood or clearing”·“from the meadow of birch trees”
In English and Irish use, Berkley has a related form in Barclay. The likely place-name background combines “birch tree” with “wood or clearing.” This is an explanation of the surname’s geographical origin, rather than a meaning shared by every name associated with Barclay. Berkley is a variant of Berkeley. One English interpretation is “from the meadow of birch trees.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English and Irish use, Berkley has a related form in Barclay. The likely place-name background combines “birch tree” with “wood or clearing.” This is an explanation of the surname’s geographical origin, rather than a meaning shared by every name associated with Barclay. Berkley is a variant of Berkeley. One English interpretation is “from the meadow of birch trees.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English and Irish use, Berkley has a related form in Barclay. Barclay is generally a given-name use of the Scottish surname. That surname is probably connected with Berkeley in Gloucestershire; its Irish use as an English form of Parthalan is a separate naming route. Berkley is a variant of Berkeley. An origin associated with Berkeley is English.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English and Irish use, Berkley has a related form in Barclay. The shared background comes through Barclay: Berkeley is explained through Old English beorc, “birch tree,” and lēah, “wood or clearing.” Barclay’s connection to that place is considered highly probable, although not certain.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1891. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English and Irish use, Berkley has a related form in Barclay. The history of Barclay gives this family its wider story. Walter de Berchelai brought the surname to Scotland in the twelfth century and became chamberlain in 1165. His descendants formed one of Scotland’s powerful families. The later adoption of Barclay as a given name probably drew on that family’s prominence.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Berkley through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 7,712
- 2,202 boys · 5,510 girls
- Most popular year
- 2021
- 389 babies
- 2025
- 334
- #888 for girls · #3,453 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +17%
- Rising
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 12% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 301 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 888 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 24.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 33 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (39). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,635 as a first name in 2020; 4,498 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Berkley’s family of names
Berkley has a related form in Berkeley. Berkley has a related form in Barclay.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Berkley
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Berkley, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Birdie
“one who is famously bright and beautiful” · “resembling a little bird”
>99% girls
Harley
“from the meadow of the hares”
20% boys · 80% girls
Rosey
“from the field of roses” · “horse”
>99% girls
Presley
“of the priest's town” · “from the priest's meadow”
7% boys · 93% girls
Winter
“born during the winter season”
6% boys · 94% girls
Vesper
“evening star; born in the evening”
5% boys · 95% girls
Everly
“from the boar's meadow”
>99% girls
Wren
“resembling a small songbird”
13% boys · 87% girls