This post contains affiliate links.
At a Glance: Name: Burke – Meaning: dweller at a fortress – Origin: Anglo-Norman (surname) – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: BURK
Burke is pronounced BURK and traces back to Anglo-Norman surname roots, carrying the meaning "dweller at a fortress." You'll sometimes see it described as an Irish name, but that label is misleading — the word itself comes from Old French/Germanic roots for fortress, and only picked up its Irish association later through the de Burgh family. As a first name today, Burke fits with worldly and clean, modern style sensibilities.
Meaning & Origin of Burke
Meaning: Dweller at a fortress.
Origin: Anglo-Norman (surname).
A common claim: Burke is popularly described as an Irish name meaning 'fortress' or 'stronghold-dweller.' Actually: The 'Irish' label is misleading – Burke's root is Anglo-Norman/Old French (from the Germanic word for fortress); it only became associated with Ireland through the Hiberno-Norman de Burgh family.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Burke
Phonetic: BURK IPA: /ˈbɜːrk/
Popularity of Burke
Burke hit its high point in 1881, when it ranked #799 with 6 babies given the name — by 2024 it had drifted down to #3218, with 37 babies recorded that year.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1881–2024.
Make Burke Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Burke, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Burke mean?
Dweller at a fortress. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Burke)
How do you pronounce Burke?
Burke is pronounced BURK (IPA: /ˈbɜːrk/).
Is Burke a popular name right now?
Burke peaked at #799 in 1881 and is ranked #3218 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1881–2024.)
📊 How popular is Burke? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
🎲 Think you know your baby names? Take the quiz!
🎨 Get Printable Name Art for Burke
Beautiful nursery-ready 8×10" print with name & meaning
Preview & Download →More Baby Name Inspiration
📱 The Baby Names app is here
Swipe names, match with your partner the moment you both say yes, and claim a free Name Art print of your winner. Free to download. See all our apps →
