Branden
Branden was the 3320th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 35 babies. Its best year was 1987, when it ranked 251st; the most babies were born in 1992 (1,150). Over the last ten years it has moved down 2,263 places. More babies were named Branden in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Brandon) broom hill (place name) · Old English, Irish
- Rank in 2025
- #3,320 boys, down 1,444 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 35boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19921,150 babies
- Total since 1880
- 27,867babies recorded
What does the name Branden mean?
Branden is a spelling of Brandon, pronounced the same way, so it shares Brandon's meaning and origin.
Brandon has two main sources. As an English surname it comes from places called Brandon, from Old English brom, 'broom (the shrub)', and dun, 'hill', so 'broom hill'; Wiktionary and Wikipedia agree. As an Irish surname it is a form of Mac Breandáin, 'son of Brendan'. Wiktionary notes that Brandon became a popular American and Canadian first name in the 1980s and 1990s.
brōm (Old English, “broom shrub”)dūn (Old English, “hill”)
How sure is this? Probable. Mostly from 'broom hill' place names; some families have the Irish Brendan surname.
Related names: Branden, Brendan, Bran.
See also: English names, names that mean meadow, hill or valley, names from places.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Brandon', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Brandon (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Branden popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 330 since 1970.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,320 | 35 |
| 2020 | #1,876 | 79 |
| 2010 | #630 | 385 |
| 2000 | #338 | 810 |
| 1990 | #299 | 849 |
| 1980 | #407 | 398 |
| 1970 | #931 | 73 |
| 1960 | #3,116 | 8 |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Branden, counting every spelling?
Branden is a spelling of Brandon, a name family that ranked #266 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #3,320 for Branden on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,387 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon | 1,326 | #261 | 8,465 |
| Branden | 35 | #3,320 | 244 |
| Brandyn | 11 | #7,264 | 74 |
| Brandan | 10 | #7,753 | 36 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Branden?
35 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Branden (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Branden born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 240 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Branden.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Branden?
About 26,400 people born in the US named Branden are alive today, with a median age of 32; half are between 24 and 39. That makes Branden mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Branden by state
How common Branden was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 46 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Branden: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Branden, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Branden
What does Branden mean?
Branden is a spelling of Brandon, which means “broom hill (place name)” (Old English, Irish origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Branden?
Branden was the 3320th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 35 babies. Its best year was 1987, when it ranked 251st; the most babies were born in 1992 (1,150). Over the last ten years it has moved down 2,263 places. More babies were named Branden in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Is Branden a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Branden in the US.
Where is Branden most popular?
In 2021–2025, Branden was most common in New York (0.02 per 1,000 boys), followed by California and Ohio.