Brian
Brian was the 339th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 979 babies. Its best year was 1970, when it ranked 8th; the most babies were born in 1972 (36,306). Over the last ten years it has moved down 150 places. More babies were named Brian in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Bryan) Origin uncertain · Irish, Celtic
- Rank in 2025
- #339 boys, down 68 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 979boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 197236,306 babies
- Total since 1880
- 1,178,298babies recorded
What does the name Brian mean?
Brian is a spelling of Bryan, pronounced the same way, so it shares Bryan's meaning and origin.
Bryan is a spelling of Brian, the name of the Irish high king Brian Boru (died 1014). DMNES calls the name of uncertain origin, possibly related to a Brittonic word for "high, noble". Medieval Bretons also used Brian, and it came to England after the Norman Conquest; DMNES records Brianus in English records from the 1180s.
*brigonos (Proto-Brythonic, “high, noble (suggested)”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. DMNES calls the origin uncertain.
Related names: Brian, Bryant, Brianna.
See also: Irish names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Bryan', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Brian', DMNES, Durham University
Brian popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 4,563 since 1943.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #339 | 979 |
| 2020 | #271 | 1,261 |
| 2010 | #101 | 3,766 |
| 2000 | #43 | 8,958 |
| 1990 | #27 | 16,935 |
| 1980 | #12 | 28,715 |
| 1970 | #8 | 31,917 |
| 1960 | #20 | 22,000 |
| 1950 | #79 | 4,441 |
| 1940 | #163 | 1,007 |
| 1930 | #646 | 90 |
| 1920 | #1,301 | 31 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Brian, counting every spelling?
Brian is a spelling of Bryan, a name family that ranked #196 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #339 for Brian on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,017 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bryan | 1,005 | #336 | 5,575 |
| Brian | 979 | #339 | 5,512 |
| Bryon | 17 | #5,426 | 92 |
| Brion | 9 | #8,361 | 61 |
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 Brian?
979 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Brian (0.27 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Brian 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 9 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Brian.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Brian?
About 1,021,200 people born in the US named Brian are alive today, with a median age of 49; half are between 39 and 58. That makes Brian 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.
Brian by state
How common Brian was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Delaware (2.5×), Massachusetts (1.8×), West Virginia (1.7×), New Jersey (1.7×), Connecticut (1.6×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in New Hampshire, North Dakota, Arkansas.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Brian: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Brian, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Brian
What does Brian mean?
The origin of Bryan is uncertain: DMNES calls the origin uncertain.
How popular is the name Brian?
Brian was the 339th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 979 babies. Its best year was 1970, when it ranked 8th; the most babies were born in 1972 (36,306). Over the last ten years it has moved down 150 places. More babies were named Brian in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Is Brian a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Brian in the US.
Where is Brian most popular?
In 2021–2025, Brian was most common in Delaware (1.58 per 1,000 boys), followed by Massachusetts and West Virginia.