Brook

There is not one, but two meanings to the names Brook and Brooke. The first is listed, while the second is to mean 'beautiful pool of tears.'

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Long before the medieval times the brook was thought to be a significantly smaller body of water than we do now, comparable to what we now refer to as a puddle.

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Because of their size, it was often fabled that tears had caused these water spots to come about. Though, since their size was obviously much too big for mere tears to cause this, it was said that angels brought them about as they watched over the world in the clouds; thus creating their beauty. Henceforth the meaning, 'beautiful pool of tears', was brought about for a brook as well as both names Brook and Brooke.

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As time passed brooks were considered to be larger bodies of water, as we see them today. The names were then used to recognize one who lived next to the stream-like body of water instead of the meaning of the pool itself, though many prefer to use this meaning today.

To the above user: your information is interesting, but however I find nothing beautiful about a pool of tears.