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Brooke

Girl / Boy name · 3,290 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Brooke: 3,290 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to both boys and girls, peaking at 258 births in 2009.

With its roots in Old English and Middle English, Brooke originally described someone who lived near a stream or brook, used both as a surname and a given name meaning “dweller by the brook.” The most famous bearer is undoubtedly the actress Brooke Shields, who shot to fame as a child star in the 1970s and 1980s, while British model and actress Brooke Kinsella also adds modern cachet. In terms of place connections, the name shares its etymology with countless brooks across Britain and Ireland, though it also appears in placenames like Brooklyn, New York—itself derived from the Dutch Breukelen. While relatively rare in Scotland, Brooke has seen steady use since the 1980s, often chosen for its gentle, nature-inspired feel. A notable variant, Brook, is sometimes used for boys.