Given name & surname
Brook
“from the running stream”
Brook is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “from the running stream.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One English interpretation is “from the running stream.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1915. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Brook through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 14,021
- 3,391 boys · 10,630 girls
- Most popular year
- 1980
- 496 babies
- 2025
- 47
- #4,373 for girls · #5,896 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −34%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 26% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 32 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 4,373 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 42.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 405 in 1980. It also appeared in 15 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 14,890 as a first name in 2020; 4,025 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.
Brook’s family of names
In English usage, Brook has a related form in Brooke. Brook has a related form in Brooke. Brook has a related form in Brooklyn.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Brook
- Brook TaylorEnglish mathematician (1685–1731)
- Diablo CodyAmerican screenwriter and author (born 1978)
- Brook LopezAmerican basketball player (born 1988)
- Brook LeeAmerican beauty queen, Miss Universe 1997born 1971
- Brook BillingsAmerican volleyball playerborn 1980
- Brook KerrAmerican actressborn 1973
- Brook RobertsonNew Zealand rowerborn 1994
- Brook Jacobybaseball player and coach from the United Statesborn 1959
- Brook BernacchiHong Kong politician (1922-1996)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Brook, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Loren
“crowned with laurel; from the laurel tree” · “man from Laurentum; crowned with laurel”
40% boys · 60% girls
Nana
“born during the spring; a star” · “a grandmother or one who watches over children”
50% boys · 50% girls
Robin
“one who is bright with fame”
47% boys · 53% girls
Windsor
“from the river that has a winch”
29% boys · 71% girls
Storm
Storm is used as a given name and a surname. One American interpretation is “of the tempest; stormy weather; having an impetuous nature.”
42% boys · 58% girls
Starling
“resembling the bird”
40% boys · 60% girls
Ridley
“from the meadow of reeds”
43% boys · 57% girls
Afton
“from the Afton river”
16% boys · 84% girls