Fun Facts About the Name Bryan
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 389,586 boys named Bryan from 1880 through 2025.
- Decades of popularity: Bryan stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 52 consecutive years, from 1959 through 2010.
- More than 391 thousand babies named Bryan: U.S. records list 391,303 babies given the name Bryan from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,717 girls received the name Bryan - about 1 girl for every 227 boys.
What Does the Name Bryan Mean?
Bryan is an English spelling of the Irish name Brian, whose original meaning is uncertain. The most common suggestion is that Brian comes from an Old Celtic element meaning "high" or "noble"; a second suggestion connects it to a Celtic word for "hill." Both rest on comparison with other Celtic words rather than on a securely recorded original sense, so the exact meaning is disputed. Bryan itself has no separate etymology. It is a spelling variant of Brian, not an independently derived name, and the two share the same uncertain root.
Bryan Name History & Origins
The name is recorded in early Irish sources as Brian. Its best-known early bearer was Brian Bóruma, called Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland who died in 1014. The name was also used in Brittany, and through Irish, Breton, and Norse-Gaelic contact it entered use in England and Scotland during the Middle Ages; Brian of Brittany, made Earl of Cornwall in the eleventh century, is an early English example.
The spelling Bryan developed as an English variant of Brian and is especially common in the United States. Bryan is also a surname: it can come from the given name used as a family name, and in Ireland it is found as an anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó Briain, meaning "descendant of Brian." Because Bryan and Brian are treated as one name in different spellings, they share a single history rather than two separate ones.
How Popular is the Name Bryan?
Bryan remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1959 to 2010. Its highest annual birth count was in 1985, and people born that year turn 41 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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | #15,676 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #16,708 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #11,149 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #10,578 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2011 | #13,614 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2010 | #8,809 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2009 | #11,627 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2008 | #8,610 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2007 | #10,246 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2006 | #7,553 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2005 | #9,566 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2004 | #4,618 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 2003 | #5,852 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2002 | #4,928 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2001 | #4,583 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2000 | #4,426 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1999 | #4,744 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1998 | #7,173 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1997 | #4,398 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1996 | #5,571 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1995 | #5,482 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1994 | #4,542 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1993 | #3,164 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 1992 | #3,878 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1991 | #3,215 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 1990 | #3,631 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 1989 | #2,992 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 1988 | #2,156 | 53 | 0.0030% |
| 1987 | #1,882 | 61 | 0.0035% |
| 1986 | #1,956 | 56 | 0.0033% |
| 1985 | #1,652 | 71 | 0.0041% |
| 1984 | #1,731 | 63 | 0.0037% |
| 1983 | #1,610 | 69 | 0.0041% |
| 1982 | #1,903 | 56 | 0.0033% |
| 1981 | #2,086 | 49 | 0.0029% |
| 1980 | #1,724 | 65 | 0.0039% |
| 1979 | #2,346 | 40 | 0.0025% |
| 1978 | #1,827 | 55 | 0.0036% |
| 1977 | #2,129 | 44 | 0.0029% |
| 1976 | #2,138 | 40 | 0.0027% |
| 1975 | #2,367 | 34 | 0.0023% |
| 1974 | #1,999 | 42 | 0.0029% |
| 1973 | #2,132 | 37 | 0.0025% |
| 1972 | #1,895 | 44 | 0.0029% |
| 1971 | #2,139 | 38 | 0.0023% |
| 1970 | #2,204 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 1969 | #2,105 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 1968 | #2,130 | 32 | 0.0020% |
| 1967 | #2,220 | 29 | 0.0018% |
| 1966 | #2,678 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1965 | #3,161 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1964 | #3,122 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1963 | #2,710 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1962 | #4,299 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1961 | #4,033 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1960 | #3,222 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1959 | #3,455 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1958 | #3,563 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1957 | #3,721 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1951 | #4,903 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #336 | 1,005 | 0.0588% |
| 2024 | #305 | 1,105 | 0.0644% |
| 2023 | #305 | 1,082 | 0.0633% |
| 2022 | #291 | 1,172 | 0.0672% |
| 2021 | #285 | 1,211 | 0.0693% |
| 2020 | #259 | 1,359 | 0.0788% |
| 2019 | #255 | 1,425 | 0.0795% |
| 2018 | #233 | 1,641 | 0.0904% |
| 2017 | #210 | 1,840 | 0.0994% |
| 2016 | #186 | 2,129 | 0.1122% |
| 2015 | #166 | 2,492 | 0.1300% |
| 2014 | #149 | 2,730 | 0.1422% |
| 2013 | #133 | 2,893 | 0.1530% |
| 2012 | #121 | 3,083 | 0.1626% |
| 2011 | #110 | 3,519 | 0.1853% |
| 2010 | #97 | 3,937 | 0.2052% |
| 2009 | #92 | 4,856 | 0.2448% |
| 2008 | #82 | 5,505 | 0.2699% |
| 2007 | #78 | 6,180 | 0.2978% |
| 2006 | #66 | 6,699 | 0.3260% |
| 2005 | #72 | 6,454 | 0.3232% |
| 2004 | #65 | 6,732 | 0.3392% |
| 2003 | #64 | 6,619 | 0.3351% |
| 2002 | #64 | 6,617 | 0.3408% |
| 2001 | #69 | 6,125 | 0.3153% |
| 2000 | #70 | 6,143 | 0.3128% |
| 1999 | #74 | 5,391 | 0.2808% |
| 1998 | #74 | 5,309 | 0.2778% |
| 1997 | #69 | 5,251 | 0.2786% |
| 1996 | #66 | 5,560 | 0.2935% |
| 1995 | #70 | 5,444 | 0.2860% |
| 1994 | #66 | 5,606 | 0.2902% |
| 1993 | #61 | 6,159 | 0.3140% |
| 1992 | #57 | 6,835 | 0.3422% |
| 1991 | #61 | 6,757 | 0.3345% |
| 1990 | #57 | 7,439 | 0.3622% |
| 1989 | #56 | 7,852 | 0.3924% |
| 1988 | #54 | 8,036 | 0.4198% |
| 1987 | #51 | 8,561 | 0.4585% |
| 1986 | #47 | 8,651 | 0.4698% |
| 1985 | #48 | 8,717 | 0.4716% |
| 1984 | #48 | 8,270 | 0.4582% |
| 1983 | #47 | 8,191 | 0.4569% |
| 1982 | #49 | 7,499 | 0.4133% |
| 1981 | #48 | 7,215 | 0.4028% |
| 1980 | #49 | 7,512 | 0.4211% |
| 1979 | #46 | 7,441 | 0.4322% |
| 1978 | #43 | 7,291 | 0.4440% |
| 1977 | #42 | 7,886 | 0.4799% |
| 1976 | #43 | 7,289 | 0.4645% |
| 1975 | #47 | 6,998 | 0.4482% |
| 1974 | #45 | 7,228 | 0.4597% |
| 1973 | #43 | 7,112 | 0.4563% |
| 1972 | #45 | 7,034 | 0.4337% |
| 1971 | #48 | 6,612 | 0.3739% |
| 1970 | #53 | 6,451 | 0.3471% |
| 1969 | #51 | 6,469 | 0.3617% |
| 1968 | #51 | 6,254 | 0.3598% |
| 1967 | #52 | 6,017 | 0.3450% |
| 1966 | #52 | 5,891 | 0.3303% |
| 1965 | #63 | 5,344 | 0.2873% |
| 1964 | #70 | 5,274 | 0.2647% |
| 1963 | #73 | 5,255 | 0.2588% |
| 1962 | #82 | 4,991 | 0.2413% |
| 1961 | #82 | 5,028 | 0.2367% |
| 1960 | #88 | 4,777 | 0.2241% |
| 1959 | #94 | 4,489 | 0.2103% |
| 1958 | #101 | 4,089 | 0.1927% |
| 1957 | #115 | 3,375 | 0.1564% |
| 1956 | #132 | 2,438 | 0.1153% |
| 1955 | #177 | 1,568 | 0.0761% |
| 1954 | #204 | 1,225 | 0.0601% |
| 1953 | #210 | 1,049 | 0.0532% |
| 1952 | #230 | 849 | 0.0437% |
| 1951 | #235 | 809 | 0.0430% |
| 1950 | #247 | 737 | 0.0412% |
| 1949 | #249 | 671 | 0.0378% |
| 1948 | #284 | 561 | 0.0320% |
| 1947 | #277 | 602 | 0.0329% |
| 1946 | #302 | 460 | 0.0283% |
| 1945 | #342 | 308 | 0.0229% |
| 1944 | #327 | 340 | 0.0249% |
| 1943 | #344 | 320 | 0.0224% |
| 1942 | #351 | 298 | 0.0216% |
| 1941 | #392 | 216 | 0.0176% |
| 1940 | #406 | 200 | 0.0173% |
| 1939 | #428 | 177 | 0.0160% |
| 1938 | #457 | 161 | 0.0145% |
| 1937 | #500 | 132 | 0.0124% |
| 1936 | #538 | 114 | 0.0110% |
| 1935 | #553 | 108 | 0.0104% |
| 1934 | #530 | 122 | 0.0118% |
| 1933 | #549 | 109 | 0.0110% |
| 1932 | #516 | 125 | 0.0120% |
| 1931 | #516 | 125 | 0.0120% |
| 1930 | #544 | 122 | 0.0111% |
| 1929 | #522 | 124 | 0.0115% |
| 1928 | #545 | 126 | 0.0114% |
| 1927 | #608 | 105 | 0.0093% |
| 1926 | #512 | 139 | 0.0125% |
| 1925 | #498 | 149 | 0.0134% |
| 1924 | #589 | 116 | 0.0102% |
| 1923 | #650 | 98 | 0.0089% |
| 1922 | #588 | 119 | 0.0109% |
| 1921 | #626 | 103 | 0.0094% |
| 1920 | #716 | 83 | 0.0078% |
| 1919 | #663 | 87 | 0.0089% |
| 1918 | #729 | 77 | 0.0076% |
| 1917 | #886 | 52 | 0.0056% |
| 1916 | #954 | 45 | 0.0051% |
| 1915 | #868 | 50 | 0.0059% |
| 1914 | #724 | 52 | 0.0079% |
| 1913 | #668 | 45 | 0.0088% |
| 1912 | #859 | 27 | 0.0063% |
| 1911 | #864 | 15 | 0.0066% |
| 1910 | #937 | 12 | 0.0062% |
| 1909 | #592 | 20 | 0.0122% |
| 1908 | #477 | 27 | 0.0175% |
| 1907 | #496 | 22 | 0.0150% |
| 1906 | #864 | 9 | 0.0068% |
| 1905 | #798 | 10 | 0.0076% |
| 1904 | #615 | 14 | 0.0109% |
| 1903 | #741 | 10 | 0.0084% |
| 1902 | #693 | 11 | 0.0090% |
| 1901 | #434 | 19 | 0.0178% |
| 1900 | #277 | 55 | 0.0366% |
| 1899 | #289 | 36 | 0.0339% |
| 1898 | #232 | 57 | 0.0465% |
| 1897 | #159 | 97 | 0.0860% |
| 1896 | #116 | 157 | 0.1313% |
| 1895 | #359 | 27 | 0.0230% |
| 1894 | #740 | 9 | 0.0078% |
| 1893 | #1,057 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1892 | #693 | 10 | 0.0082% |
| 1890 | #817 | 7 | 0.0063% |
| 1886 | #986 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1883 | #812 | 6 | 0.0057% |
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 Bryan
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.
Most Popular Boy Names at All Time
Longtime Favorite Boy Names
Explore More Lists with Name Bryan
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with B
Short Boy Names That Start with B
How the Name Bryan 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 inventive, intuitive and extremely methodical. Since your will is so strong, you are hard to convince. You also dislike advice. You love beauty and philosophy, and you desire achievement. You have a strong need for freedom - physical, mental and spiritual.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Bryan's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Bryan's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.