Brooks is a surname of English origin that is derived from the Middle English word "broc," which means "brook" or "stream." It was originally given as a nickname to someone who lived near a stream or had a flowing gait like water.
The name Brooks has been used as both a first and last name throughout history. In the United States, for example, it was listed as the 367th most popular male baby name in 2019 according to data from the Social Security Administration. Some notable individuals with the surname Brooks include the American actor Mel Brooks and the British musician Max Brooks.
The meaning behind the name Brooks is simple yet powerful: it signifies a connection to nature, fluidity, and movement. This could make it an appealing choice for parents looking for a unique, meaningful name for their child.
Overall, whether used as a first or last name, Brooks is a strong, distinctive name with a clear etymological origin and a straightforward meaning that reflects the natural world around us.
Based on the provided statistics, we can observe several trends and patterns regarding the number of births with the name Brooks in the United States from 1915 to 2023.
From 1915 to around 1970, the annual number of births named Brooks fluctuated between 6 and 18. The first significant peak occurred in 1978, with 23 births, followed by another peak in 1980, with a notable increase to 59 births. This suggests that there might have been some popularity boost for the name Brooks around this period.
The decade between 1980 and 1990 saw a decline in the number of Brooks births, with counts ranging from 9 to 24. However, since 1992, we observe a steady increase in popularity:
- From 1992 to 2003, there were between 19 and 25 births annually.
- Between 2004 and 2017, the number of Brooks births ranged from 8 to 33.
- Since 2018, there has been a significant surge in popularity: 44 births in 2018, 46 in 2019, 71 in 2020, 58 in 2021, and a remarkable 80 in 2023.
Overall, looking at the trends over time, we can see that Brooks has seen periods of fluctuation and decline but has overall become more popular as a baby name in recent years. The total number of births named Brooks in the United States from 1915 to 2023 is 1,543.