Bryson
Bryson was the 152nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 2,416 babies. Its best year was 2017, when it ranked 86th with 4,679 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 19 places. More babies were named Bryson in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · English, Celtic
Say it BRY-suhn /ˈbraɪsən/
- Rank in 2025
- #152 boys, down 37 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 2,416boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20174,679 babies
- Total since 1880
- 83,525babies recorded
What does the name Bryson mean?
Bryson is a patronymic surname, 'son of Brice', which Wiktionary analyses as Brice plus -son. Brice was a medieval name made popular by Saint Brice, a 5th-century bishop of Tours. DMNES calls its origin uncertain, possibly related to a Gaulish name from a Celtic word meaning 'speckled'. As a first name Bryson is a recent American transfer from the surname.
Brice (Old French, “Brice”)*brikkos (Proto-Celtic, “speckled (possible source)”)-son (Middle English, “son of”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. 'Son of Brice' is clear; the meaning of Brice is uncertain per DMNES.
Related names: Brice, Bryce, Brycen.
See also: English names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Bryson', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Brice', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
Bryson popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 284 since 1984.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #152 | 2,416 |
| 2020 | #115 | 3,218 |
| 2010 | #120 | 3,392 |
| 2000 | #269 | 1,206 |
| 1990 | #552 | 333 |
| 1980 | #751 | 136 |
| 1970 | #2,067 | 19 |
| 1960 | #2,895 | 9 |
| 1950 | #2,124 | 13 |
| 1940 | #2,691 | 8 |
| 1930 | #1,896 | 16 |
| 1920 | #2,796 | 10 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Bryson, counting every spelling?
Bryson is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #136 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #152 for Bryson on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,772 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bryson | 2,416 | #152 | 13,153 |
| Brycen | 276 | #868 | 1,698 |
| Brysen | 63 | #2,233 | 463 |
| Bricen | 6 | #10,873 | 45 |
| Brysyn | — | — | 32 |
| Brysin | — | — | 29 |
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 Bryson?
2,416 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Bryson (0.67 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Bryson 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 3 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Bryson.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Bryson?
About 81,800 people born in the US named Bryson are alive today, with a median age of 13; half are between 8 and 19. That makes Bryson mostly worn by children and young adults.
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.
Bryson by state
How common Bryson was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Delaware (2.7×), Alabama (2.6×), Mississippi (2.6×), West Virginia (2.5×), South Carolina (1.9×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Hawaii, Utah, Washington.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Bryson: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Bryson, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Bryson · Sibling names for Bryson
Questions about the name Bryson
What does Bryson mean?
The origin of Bryson is uncertain: 'Son of Brice' is clear; the meaning of Brice is uncertain per DMNES.
How popular is the name Bryson?
Bryson was the 152nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 2,416 babies. Its best year was 2017, when it ranked 86th with 4,679 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 19 places. More babies were named Bryson in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Bryson a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Bryson in the US.
Where is Bryson most popular?
In 2021–2025, Bryson was most common in Delaware (4.16 per 1,000 boys), followed by Alabama and Mississippi.