Brooklyn

At a Glance

Meaning

Marshland (from Dutch broek), via the place name Breukelen

Origin

Dutch (place name)

Gender

Neutral

Pronunciation

BROOK-linListen

Brooklyn (pronounced BROOK-lin) comes from the Dutch place name Breukelen, and its root word broek simply means marshland or wetland. You may have come across the claim that Brooklyn means 'broken land' — that's a mistranslation, since Dutch broek refers to marsh, not 'broken.' It's used as a name for any gender, with a straightforward place-name history behind it.

Meaning & Origin of Brooklyn

Meaning: Marshland (from Dutch broek), via the place name Breukelen.

Origin: Dutch (place name).

A common claim: Brooklyn is popularly said to mean 'broken land.' Actually: This is a mistranslation – Dutch 'broek' means marsh or wetland, not 'broken'; Brooklyn traces to the marshy town of Breukelen, not to 'broken land.'

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Brooklyn

Popularity of Brooklyn

Brooklyn hit its peak at #21 in 2011, when 7,178 babies were given the name, and has since settled to #108 in 2024 with 2,487 babies.

Names Like Brooklyn

These names share Brooklyn’s style, era or origin.

• Aspen
• Aubrey
• Autumn
• Blake
• Briggs
• Camden

FAQ

What does the name Brooklyn mean?

Marshland (from Dutch broek), via the place name Breukelen. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Brooklyn?

Brooklyn is pronounced BROOK-lin (IPA: /ˈbrʊklɪn/).

Is Brooklyn a popular name right now?

Brooklyn peaked at #21 in 2011 and is ranked #108 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1972–2024.)

Make Brooklyn Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Brooklyn, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.