Fun Facts About the Name Brooks
- Gaining ground: Brooks remained in the U.S. top 100 for 6 consecutive years, from 2020 through 2025. In 2025, it gained 3 ranking positions compared with the previous year.
- More than 59 thousand babies named Brooks: U.S. records list 59,617 babies given the name Brooks from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,693 girls received the name Brooks - about 1 girl for every 34 boys.
What Does the Name Brooks Mean?
Brooks is an English surname used as a given name. Its established meaning is 'dweller by the brook' or 'one who lives near a stream.' The origin is English: Middle English brok (also brooke), meaning 'brook, stream,' from Old English brōc with the same sense. The final -s is a common surname ending; it is usually explained as a genitive or locative marker, giving the sense 'of the brook' or 'at the brook,' rather than adding a separate word.
Brooks belongs to the large English category of topographic surnames, which described a person's home or land. The related name Brooke comes from the same Middle English word for a stream, but Brooks has its own surname history and is now also used as a masculine given name.
Brooks Name History & Origins
Old English brōc meant a brook or stream. In Middle English the word appears as brok or brooke, and it was used in place names and bynames. In England, topographic surnames of this kind became hereditary in the later Middle Ages, and Brooks is one of them. It identified a person who lived by a stream.
As a first name, Brooks is a transferred use of the surname. This follows a long English-speaking custom of giving children surnames as first names, a practice that became particularly common in the United States. As a given name, Brooks is usually masculine. The related form Brooke, from the same stream word, has a separate history and is often used for girls.
How Popular is the Name Brooks?
Brooks recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2025. Brooks entered the top 100 U.S. boy names in 2020.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,126 | 88 | 0.0055% |
| 2024 | #2,770 | 61 | 0.0038% |
| 2023 | #2,287 | 80 | 0.0050% |
| 2022 | #2,560 | 69 | 0.0042% |
| 2021 | #2,896 | 58 | 0.0035% |
| 2020 | #2,444 | 71 | 0.0044% |
| 2019 | #3,404 | 46 | 0.0027% |
| 2018 | #3,510 | 44 | 0.0026% |
| 2017 | #6,863 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2016 | #4,548 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 2015 | #4,316 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 2014 | #5,049 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2013 | #6,516 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2012 | #4,855 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 2011 | #6,607 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2010 | #5,640 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 2009 | #8,987 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2008 | #10,200 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2007 | #8,601 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2006 | #10,727 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2005 | #6,879 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2004 | #11,797 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2003 | #11,495 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2002 | #7,501 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2001 | #10,253 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2000 | #8,652 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1999 | #6,886 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1998 | #5,402 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1997 | #7,347 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1996 | #8,247 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1995 | #4,871 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1994 | #4,705 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1993 | #4,116 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1992 | #4,872 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1991 | #6,649 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1990 | #8,582 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1989 | #6,206 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1988 | #3,813 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1987 | #4,307 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1986 | #4,367 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1985 | #3,868 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1984 | #4,179 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1983 | #2,988 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 1982 | #1,877 | 57 | 0.0034% |
| 1981 | #1,889 | 57 | 0.0034% |
| 1980 | #1,837 | 59 | 0.0036% |
| 1979 | #3,922 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1978 | #3,297 | 23 | 0.0015% |
| 1977 | #4,254 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1976 | #4,650 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1975 | #3,523 | 19 | 0.0013% |
| 1974 | #4,489 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1973 | #4,601 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1972 | #4,816 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1971 | #3,517 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1970 | #3,444 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1969 | #4,457 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1968 | #5,691 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1967 | #5,511 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1966 | #3,985 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1965 | #3,763 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1964 | #5,047 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1963 | #3,350 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1962 | #4,905 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1961 | #4,935 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1960 | #4,479 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1959 | #4,668 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1958 | #4,945 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #5,438 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1956 | #3,198 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1955 | #3,399 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1954 | #4,006 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1953 | #3,722 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1951 | #4,423 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #3,996 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1948 | #4,238 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1947 | #3,732 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1945 | #4,074 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1944 | #4,115 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1920 | #4,012 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1917 | #4,686 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1915 | #3,847 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #64 | 4,877 | 0.2855% |
| 2024 | #67 | 4,793 | 0.2794% |
| 2023 | #73 | 4,483 | 0.2624% |
| 2022 | #76 | 4,347 | 0.2492% |
| 2021 | #78 | 4,442 | 0.2541% |
| 2020 | #92 | 3,870 | 0.2243% |
| 2019 | #109 | 3,508 | 0.1956% |
| 2018 | #161 | 2,379 | 0.1310% |
| 2017 | #204 | 1,934 | 0.1045% |
| 2016 | #233 | 1,671 | 0.0881% |
| 2015 | #233 | 1,652 | 0.0862% |
| 2014 | #247 | 1,520 | 0.0791% |
| 2013 | #302 | 1,163 | 0.0615% |
| 2012 | #359 | 848 | 0.0447% |
| 2011 | #345 | 878 | 0.0462% |
| 2010 | #401 | 700 | 0.0365% |
| 2009 | #488 | 558 | 0.0281% |
| 2008 | #599 | 419 | 0.0205% |
| 2007 | #536 | 479 | 0.0231% |
| 2006 | #597 | 412 | 0.0200% |
| 2005 | #643 | 339 | 0.0170% |
| 2004 | #634 | 332 | 0.0167% |
| 2003 | #704 | 268 | 0.0136% |
| 2002 | #738 | 236 | 0.0122% |
| 2001 | #734 | 237 | 0.0122% |
| 2000 | #707 | 248 | 0.0126% |
| 1999 | #717 | 229 | 0.0119% |
| 1998 | #733 | 224 | 0.0117% |
| 1997 | #650 | 252 | 0.0134% |
| 1996 | #662 | 250 | 0.0132% |
| 1995 | #653 | 255 | 0.0134% |
| 1994 | #645 | 259 | 0.0134% |
| 1993 | #673 | 233 | 0.0119% |
| 1992 | #671 | 239 | 0.0120% |
| 1991 | #692 | 213 | 0.0105% |
| 1990 | #681 | 221 | 0.0108% |
| 1989 | #682 | 214 | 0.0107% |
| 1988 | #683 | 190 | 0.0099% |
| 1987 | #601 | 229 | 0.0123% |
| 1986 | #588 | 230 | 0.0125% |
| 1985 | #508 | 294 | 0.0159% |
| 1984 | #530 | 263 | 0.0146% |
| 1983 | #485 | 303 | 0.0169% |
| 1982 | #401 | 421 | 0.0232% |
| 1981 | #421 | 391 | 0.0218% |
| 1980 | #497 | 289 | 0.0162% |
| 1979 | #619 | 191 | 0.0111% |
| 1978 | #791 | 115 | 0.0070% |
| 1977 | #727 | 138 | 0.0084% |
| 1976 | #748 | 123 | 0.0078% |
| 1975 | #774 | 114 | 0.0073% |
| 1974 | #696 | 140 | 0.0089% |
| 1973 | #690 | 134 | 0.0086% |
| 1972 | #709 | 128 | 0.0079% |
| 1971 | #647 | 162 | 0.0092% |
| 1970 | #678 | 147 | 0.0079% |
| 1969 | #794 | 95 | 0.0053% |
| 1968 | #703 | 115 | 0.0066% |
| 1967 | #703 | 111 | 0.0064% |
| 1966 | #699 | 112 | 0.0063% |
| 1965 | #745 | 99 | 0.0053% |
| 1964 | #751 | 104 | 0.0052% |
| 1963 | #704 | 121 | 0.0060% |
| 1962 | #689 | 126 | 0.0061% |
| 1961 | #671 | 135 | 0.0064% |
| 1960 | #769 | 98 | 0.0046% |
| 1959 | #677 | 127 | 0.0059% |
| 1958 | #809 | 86 | 0.0041% |
| 1957 | #714 | 109 | 0.0051% |
| 1956 | #699 | 112 | 0.0053% |
| 1955 | #721 | 103 | 0.0050% |
| 1954 | #717 | 101 | 0.0050% |
| 1953 | #661 | 115 | 0.0058% |
| 1952 | #786 | 80 | 0.0041% |
| 1951 | #736 | 89 | 0.0047% |
| 1950 | #893 | 59 | 0.0033% |
| 1949 | #750 | 84 | 0.0047% |
| 1948 | #803 | 71 | 0.0040% |
| 1947 | #728 | 89 | 0.0049% |
| 1946 | #828 | 63 | 0.0039% |
| 1945 | #754 | 66 | 0.0049% |
| 1944 | #833 | 57 | 0.0042% |
| 1943 | #818 | 65 | 0.0046% |
| 1942 | #713 | 81 | 0.0059% |
| 1941 | #779 | 64 | 0.0052% |
| 1940 | #793 | 61 | 0.0053% |
| 1939 | #869 | 50 | 0.0045% |
| 1938 | #827 | 56 | 0.0050% |
| 1937 | #773 | 63 | 0.0059% |
| 1936 | #926 | 44 | 0.0042% |
| 1935 | #750 | 67 | 0.0064% |
| 1934 | #861 | 53 | 0.0051% |
| 1933 | #826 | 56 | 0.0056% |
| 1932 | #939 | 48 | 0.0046% |
| 1931 | #859 | 55 | 0.0053% |
| 1930 | #916 | 53 | 0.0048% |
| 1929 | #890 | 56 | 0.0052% |
| 1928 | #865 | 59 | 0.0053% |
| 1927 | #885 | 59 | 0.0052% |
| 1926 | #843 | 61 | 0.0055% |
| 1925 | #926 | 53 | 0.0047% |
| 1924 | #838 | 66 | 0.0058% |
| 1923 | #932 | 54 | 0.0049% |
| 1922 | #761 | 76 | 0.0070% |
| 1921 | #716 | 84 | 0.0076% |
| 1920 | #744 | 77 | 0.0072% |
| 1919 | #839 | 61 | 0.0062% |
| 1918 | #743 | 75 | 0.0074% |
| 1917 | #761 | 68 | 0.0073% |
| 1916 | #797 | 60 | 0.0067% |
| 1915 | #692 | 71 | 0.0084% |
| 1914 | #760 | 48 | 0.0073% |
| 1913 | #617 | 51 | 0.0099% |
| 1912 | #898 | 25 | 0.0058% |
| 1911 | #863 | 15 | 0.0066% |
| 1910 | #872 | 13 | 0.0067% |
| 1909 | #722 | 15 | 0.0091% |
| 1908 | #659 | 16 | 0.0104% |
| 1907 | #638 | 16 | 0.0109% |
| 1906 | #716 | 12 | 0.0090% |
| 1905 | #935 | 8 | 0.0060% |
| 1904 | #728 | 11 | 0.0086% |
| 1903 | #659 | 12 | 0.0101% |
| 1902 | #692 | 11 | 0.0090% |
| 1901 | #489 | 16 | 0.0150% |
| 1900 | #749 | 12 | 0.0080% |
| 1899 | #666 | 10 | 0.0094% |
| 1898 | #812 | 8 | 0.0065% |
| 1897 | #557 | 14 | 0.0124% |
| 1896 | #834 | 8 | 0.0067% |
| 1895 | #694 | 10 | 0.0085% |
| 1894 | #680 | 10 | 0.0086% |
| 1892 | #761 | 9 | 0.0074% |
| 1891 | #855 | 6 | 0.0059% |
| 1890 | #751 | 8 | 0.0072% |
| 1889 | #991 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1888 | #931 | 6 | 0.0050% |
| 1887 | #835 | 6 | 0.0059% |
| 1886 | #984 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1885 | #582 | 11 | 0.0102% |
| 1884 | #865 | 6 | 0.0052% |
| 1882 | #658 | 9 | 0.0079% |
| 1880 | #932 | 5 | 0.0045% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Brooks
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
Rising Favorite Boy Names
Recent Favorite Boy Names
Explore More Lists with Name Brooks
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with B
How the Name Brooks Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You can go to great heights and equally great depths. You are emotional and fixed in your opinions. You are hospitable, sentimental, often psychic, sometimes moody. You are ruled by love and the lack of it and feel a need to be encouraged and appreciated. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
Position and social status is very important for you and you are always looking for way to improve your position in society. You have power and ability to chose your own destiny and achieve anything you want in life. You can expand in any direction according to your will and the set of values. You have passion for justice and belong to the position of authority. You have an inherent courage and endurance to accomplish "The Impossible Dream". With the power comes responsibility. You hold keys to the material world, but with this gift comes high spiritual responsibility to be fair and true to others. You are philosophical and mature, determined and intense with a desire to endure, often religious.
✦ Brooks's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Brooks's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.