Berlin
Berlin is the capital and largest city of Germany. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the highest population within its city limits of any city in the European Union. The city is also one of the states of Germany, being the third-smallest state in the country by area. Berlin is surrounded by the state of Brandenburg, bordering Brandenburg's capital Potsdam to the southwest.
- Various
Meaning & Origin of Berlin
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Berlin is the capital and largest city of Germany. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the highest population within its city limits of any city in the European Union. The city is also one of the states of Germany, being the third-smallest state in the country by area. Berlin is surrounded by the state of Brandenburg, bordering Brandenburg's capital Potsdam to the southwest.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Various
Etymology
Origin & history
The Story of Berlin
As a girl name
American parents first put Berlin on the record books as a girl name in 1918, with 10 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2011, when 97 Berlins were born — ranking #2,017 that year. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 40% of all recorded Berlins. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #3,042 among girl names with 53 births, gradually falling (-7%). In total, more than 2K Berlins have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Berlin as a boy name dates back to 1899, when 5 babies received it. 1916 was its biggest year on record, with 42 newborns named Berlin — #984 in the national rankings. The 1920s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 21% of all recorded Berlins. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #4,325 among boy names with 24 births, rising sharply (+41% over the past five years). In total, more than 2K Berlins have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Berlin
Phonetically similar names — useful when Berlin is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Berlin
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About the name Berlin
Berlin is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1918 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Berlin's peak popularity came in 2011 when it ranked #2,017. Use the chart and map above to compare Berlin's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2011 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "B" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.