Fun Facts About the Name Brian
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 1,173,741 boys named Brian from 1880 through 2025.
- Decades of popularity: Brian stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 63 consecutive years, from 1947 through 2009.
- More than 1 million babies named Brian: U.S. records list 1,178,304 babies given the name Brian from 1880 through 2025. Even 4,563 girls received the name Brian - about 1 girl for every 257 boys.
What Does the Name Brian Mean?
Brian is a male given name that comes from Old Irish Brian. Its ultimate origin is not settled. The explanation given most often connects it to a Celtic root meaning "high" or "hill," seen in Old Irish brí (a hill) and Welsh bryn (a hill); from that idea of height comes the customary sense "high" or "noble." A less common explanation links the name instead to a Celtic root for "strength" or "power." Both proposals rest on reconstructing an early Celtic word that is not directly recorded, so the name's literal meaning remains uncertain.
Brian Name History & Origins
The name is found in medieval Irish sources. In Irish myth, Brian is one of the three sons of Tuirenn in the tale Oidheadh Chlainne Tuireann ("The Fate of the Children of Tuireann"), which tells of the brothers' quests and their deaths. That is a literary use of the name and does not show where it came from.
The best-known historical bearer is Brian Bóruma, or Brian Boru (died 1014), a king of Munster who became High King of Ireland and was killed at the Battle of Clontarf. Other men named Brian appear in the Irish annals, showing that the name was used by Irish ruling families in the early Middle Ages.
Through Gaelic settlement and later migration, the name was carried to Scotland and England, and from there to other English-speaking countries. Bryan is a common variant spelling, and both Brian and Bryan also serve as surnames. The feminine forms Brianna and Briana were developed from the same name.
How Popular is the Name Brian?
Brian remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1947 to 2009. Its highest annual birth count was in 1972, and people born that year turn 54 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | #16,906 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #16,994 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #9,832 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2011 | #17,216 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #12,479 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2009 | #15,577 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #11,759 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2007 | #5,930 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2006 | #12,616 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #5,296 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2004 | #3,503 | 42 | 0.0023% |
| 2003 | #5,848 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2002 | #5,935 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2001 | #6,669 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2000 | #4,092 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1999 | #5,256 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1998 | #4,385 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1997 | #4,393 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1996 | #3,732 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 1995 | #2,423 | 53 | 0.0030% |
| 1994 | #3,174 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 1993 | #2,727 | 44 | 0.0024% |
| 1992 | #2,831 | 42 | 0.0023% |
| 1991 | #2,556 | 48 | 0.0026% |
| 1990 | #2,405 | 51 | 0.0027% |
| 1989 | #1,875 | 70 | 0.0038% |
| 1988 | #1,197 | 126 | 0.0071% |
| 1987 | #1,161 | 126 | 0.0072% |
| 1986 | #1,058 | 142 | 0.0083% |
| 1985 | #1,072 | 137 | 0.0080% |
| 1984 | #979 | 147 | 0.0087% |
| 1983 | #947 | 156 | 0.0093% |
| 1982 | #1,005 | 147 | 0.0087% |
| 1981 | #1,009 | 144 | 0.0086% |
| 1980 | #885 | 173 | 0.0104% |
| 1979 | #931 | 158 | 0.0098% |
| 1978 | #858 | 171 | 0.0112% |
| 1977 | #829 | 181 | 0.0118% |
| 1976 | #870 | 155 | 0.0106% |
| 1975 | #880 | 151 | 0.0104% |
| 1974 | #912 | 138 | 0.0094% |
| 1973 | #821 | 160 | 0.0110% |
| 1972 | #795 | 171 | 0.0112% |
| 1971 | #886 | 150 | 0.0090% |
| 1970 | #891 | 148 | 0.0085% |
| 1969 | #933 | 130 | 0.0077% |
| 1968 | #1,013 | 105 | 0.0064% |
| 1967 | #1,002 | 104 | 0.0063% |
| 1966 | #1,119 | 89 | 0.0053% |
| 1965 | #1,274 | 71 | 0.0040% |
| 1964 | #1,418 | 63 | 0.0033% |
| 1963 | #1,509 | 55 | 0.0029% |
| 1962 | #1,429 | 60 | 0.0031% |
| 1961 | #1,811 | 40 | 0.0020% |
| 1960 | #1,543 | 52 | 0.0026% |
| 1959 | #1,766 | 39 | 0.0019% |
| 1958 | #1,765 | 38 | 0.0019% |
| 1957 | #2,172 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1956 | #2,634 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1955 | #2,283 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1954 | #3,343 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1953 | #3,718 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1952 | #3,053 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1951 | #4,053 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #5,380 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1949 | #4,733 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1948 | #4,724 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1947 | #3,075 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1946 | #3,698 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1945 | #4,625 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1943 | #3,062 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #339 | 979 | 0.0573% |
| 2024 | #301 | 1,111 | 0.0648% |
| 2023 | #317 | 1,048 | 0.0613% |
| 2022 | #289 | 1,180 | 0.0676% |
| 2021 | #288 | 1,188 | 0.0680% |
| 2020 | #270 | 1,261 | 0.0731% |
| 2019 | #247 | 1,478 | 0.0824% |
| 2018 | #235 | 1,631 | 0.0898% |
| 2017 | #216 | 1,777 | 0.0960% |
| 2016 | #204 | 1,983 | 0.1045% |
| 2015 | #189 | 2,217 | 0.1157% |
| 2014 | #168 | 2,535 | 0.1320% |
| 2013 | #150 | 2,644 | 0.1398% |
| 2012 | #141 | 2,819 | 0.1486% |
| 2011 | #122 | 3,250 | 0.1711% |
| 2010 | #101 | 3,766 | 0.1963% |
| 2009 | #94 | 4,656 | 0.2348% |
| 2008 | #87 | 5,263 | 0.2580% |
| 2007 | #81 | 6,075 | 0.2927% |
| 2006 | #72 | 6,511 | 0.3168% |
| 2005 | #63 | 6,919 | 0.3464% |
| 2004 | #59 | 7,333 | 0.3695% |
| 2003 | #59 | 7,672 | 0.3884% |
| 2002 | #51 | 8,082 | 0.4163% |
| 2001 | #46 | 8,303 | 0.4274% |
| 2000 | #43 | 8,957 | 0.4561% |
| 1999 | #43 | 8,808 | 0.4587% |
| 1998 | #41 | 9,146 | 0.4785% |
| 1997 | #37 | 9,737 | 0.5165% |
| 1996 | #36 | 10,476 | 0.5530% |
| 1995 | #36 | 10,989 | 0.5773% |
| 1994 | #37 | 11,646 | 0.6028% |
| 1993 | #34 | 12,543 | 0.6395% |
| 1992 | #31 | 14,108 | 0.7063% |
| 1991 | #30 | 14,917 | 0.7384% |
| 1990 | #27 | 16,933 | 0.8244% |
| 1989 | #24 | 18,108 | 0.9050% |
| 1988 | #22 | 19,529 | 1.0202% |
| 1987 | #20 | 20,363 | 1.0907% |
| 1986 | #20 | 21,029 | 1.1419% |
| 1985 | #18 | 23,068 | 1.2481% |
| 1984 | #17 | 24,723 | 1.3697% |
| 1983 | #14 | 26,047 | 1.4530% |
| 1982 | #14 | 25,830 | 1.4234% |
| 1981 | #14 | 26,582 | 1.4839% |
| 1980 | #12 | 28,718 | 1.6097% |
| 1979 | #10 | 28,664 | 1.6649% |
| 1978 | #9 | 29,435 | 1.7927% |
| 1977 | #8 | 32,494 | 1.9773% |
| 1976 | #8 | 30,524 | 1.9452% |
| 1975 | #8 | 30,586 | 1.9588% |
| 1974 | #8 | 34,451 | 2.1909% |
| 1973 | #8 | 35,688 | 2.2896% |
| 1972 | #8 | 36,309 | 2.2389% |
| 1971 | #9 | 32,625 | 1.8448% |
| 1970 | #8 | 31,918 | 1.7175% |
| 1969 | #9 | 31,669 | 1.7709% |
| 1968 | #10 | 29,922 | 1.7216% |
| 1967 | #10 | 28,648 | 1.6428% |
| 1966 | #14 | 27,255 | 1.5282% |
| 1965 | #19 | 24,550 | 1.3197% |
| 1964 | #20 | 24,174 | 1.2131% |
| 1963 | #20 | 24,122 | 1.1878% |
| 1962 | #20 | 23,227 | 1.1228% |
| 1961 | #20 | 22,562 | 1.0623% |
| 1960 | #20 | 21,990 | 1.0315% |
| 1959 | #22 | 20,735 | 0.9714% |
| 1958 | #24 | 19,276 | 0.9083% |
| 1957 | #26 | 17,524 | 0.8123% |
| 1956 | #32 | 14,667 | 0.6934% |
| 1955 | #40 | 10,106 | 0.4906% |
| 1954 | #48 | 8,079 | 0.3963% |
| 1953 | #53 | 6,666 | 0.3380% |
| 1952 | #64 | 5,741 | 0.2954% |
| 1951 | #75 | 5,100 | 0.2709% |
| 1950 | #79 | 4,442 | 0.2481% |
| 1949 | #86 | 3,854 | 0.2173% |
| 1948 | #95 | 3,358 | 0.1914% |
| 1947 | #95 | 3,450 | 0.1886% |
| 1946 | #103 | 2,585 | 0.1592% |
| 1945 | #113 | 1,989 | 0.1478% |
| 1944 | #116 | 1,954 | 0.1434% |
| 1943 | #120 | 1,950 | 0.1366% |
| 1942 | #139 | 1,523 | 0.1103% |
| 1941 | #153 | 1,123 | 0.0914% |
| 1940 | #163 | 1,008 | 0.0870% |
| 1939 | #176 | 808 | 0.0730% |
| 1938 | #204 | 609 | 0.0549% |
| 1937 | #228 | 519 | 0.0487% |
| 1936 | #289 | 344 | 0.0332% |
| 1935 | #347 | 254 | 0.0244% |
| 1934 | #402 | 187 | 0.0181% |
| 1933 | #450 | 150 | 0.0151% |
| 1932 | #538 | 119 | 0.0114% |
| 1931 | #617 | 93 | 0.0089% |
| 1930 | #646 | 90 | 0.0082% |
| 1929 | #558 | 112 | 0.0104% |
| 1928 | #603 | 104 | 0.0094% |
| 1927 | #755 | 75 | 0.0067% |
| 1926 | #1,010 | 47 | 0.0042% |
| 1925 | #872 | 59 | 0.0053% |
| 1924 | #1,171 | 38 | 0.0034% |
| 1923 | #1,214 | 35 | 0.0032% |
| 1922 | #1,314 | 31 | 0.0028% |
| 1921 | #1,253 | 34 | 0.0031% |
| 1920 | #1,301 | 31 | 0.0029% |
| 1919 | #2,162 | 14 | 0.0014% |
| 1918 | #2,415 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1917 | #2,104 | 14 | 0.0015% |
| 1916 | #1,780 | 17 | 0.0019% |
| 1915 | #1,510 | 21 | 0.0025% |
| 1914 | #1,988 | 11 | 0.0017% |
| 1913 | #1,452 | 14 | 0.0027% |
| 1912 | #2,312 | 6 | 0.0014% |
| 1911 | #1,404 | 7 | 0.0031% |
| 1909 | #1,480 | 5 | 0.0030% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Brian
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Brian Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You can go to great heights and equally great depths. You are emotional and fixed in your opinions. You are hospitable, sentimental, often psychic, sometimes moody. You are ruled by love and the lack of it and feel a need to be encouraged and appreciated. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
Position and social status is very important for you and you are always looking for way to improve your position in society. You have power and ability to chose your own destiny and achieve anything you want in life. You can expand in any direction according to your will and the set of values. You have passion for justice and belong to the position of authority. You have an inherent courage and endurance to accomplish "The Impossible Dream". With the power comes responsibility. You hold keys to the material world, but with this gift comes high spiritual responsibility to be fair and true to others. You are philosophical and mature, determined and intense with a desire to endure, often religious.
✦ Brian's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Brian's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.