Berkeley is an English given name of medieval origin, derived from the Old French place name "Bercel" which means "birch tree meadow." It was initially used as a surname before becoming popular as a given name in the 19th century. Berkeley has been associated with notable figures such as the philosopher George Berkeley and the city of Berkeley, California, named after the 18th-century English explorer Captain John Berkeley.
The number of births named Berkeley has varied significantly over the past century, with peaks and valleys in different decades. The highest recorded year was 2011 with 21 births, while the lowest was 1925 with only 5 births.