Bryan
Bryan was the 336th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,005 babies. Its best year was 1977, when it ranked 42nd; the most babies were born in 1985 (8,717). Over the last ten years it has moved down 170 places. More babies were named Bryan in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · Irish, Celtic
Say it BRY-un /ˈbraɪən/
- Rank in 2025
- #336 boys, down 77 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 1,005boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19858,717 babies
- Total since 1880
- 391,306babies recorded
What does the name Bryan mean?
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
Bryan popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 1,717 since 1951.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #336 | 1,005 |
| 2020 | #259 | 1,359 |
| 2010 | #97 | 3,938 |
| 2000 | #70 | 6,143 |
| 1990 | #57 | 7,439 |
| 1980 | #49 | 7,513 |
| 1970 | #53 | 6,452 |
| 1960 | #88 | 4,780 |
| 1950 | #247 | 737 |
| 1940 | #406 | 200 |
| 1930 | #544 | 122 |
| 1920 | #716 | 83 |
| 1910 | #937 | 12 |
| 1900 | #277 | 55 |
| 1890 | #817 | 7 |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Bryan, counting every spelling?
Bryan is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #196 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #336 for Bryan 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 Bryan?
1,005 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Bryan (0.28 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Bryan 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 8 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Bryan.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Bryan?
About 351,800 people born in the US named Bryan are alive today, with a median age of 40; half are between 26 and 52. That makes Bryan 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.
Bryan by state
How common Bryan was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Massachusetts (3.3×), Florida (2.3×), New Jersey (1.6×), Connecticut (1.5×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Mississippi, Minnesota, Wisconsin.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Bryan: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Bryan, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Bryan · Sibling names for Bryan
Questions about the name Bryan
What does Bryan mean?
The origin of Bryan is uncertain: DMNES calls the origin uncertain.
How popular is the name Bryan?
Bryan was the 336th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,005 babies. Its best year was 1977, when it ranked 42nd; the most babies were born in 1985 (8,717). Over the last ten years it has moved down 170 places. More babies were named Bryan in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Is Bryan a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Bryan in the US.
Where is Bryan most popular?
In 2021–2025, Bryan was most common in Massachusetts (2.15 per 1,000 boys), followed by Florida and New Jersey.