ocasio-cortez was born into a catholic family in the bronx borough of new york city on october 13, 1989. she is the daughter of blanca ocasio-cortez ("née" cortez) and sergio ocasio. she has a younger brother named gabriel. her father was born in the bronx to a puerto rican family. her mother was born in puerto rico. she lived with her family in an apartment in the bronx neighborhood of parkchester until she was five. her family later moved to a house in suburban yorktown heights.