Bannon
A name referring to a hill or slope, coming from the Celtic Gaelic bann.
Name Census estimates that about 195 living Americans carry the first name Bannon. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Bannon today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Bannon births was 2016 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Bannon. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
195
~ 1 in 1,757,715 Americans
Peak year
2016
16 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,362
Tracked since 1996
Popularity
Bannon: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Bannon from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 105 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bannon by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Bannon during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Bannon
The name Bannon originated from the Irish Gaelic language and is believed to have been derived from the word "Bánón," which means "little fair one" or "little white one." This name has its roots in ancient Celtic culture and was initially used in Ireland during the Middle Ages.
The earliest recorded use of the name Bannon can be traced back to the 12th century in Ireland. It was primarily used as a first name for boys, often given to those with fair hair or complexion. The name Bannon was particularly popular among Irish families, especially those with strong ties to their Celtic heritage.
One of the earliest known historical figures bearing the name Bannon was Bannon of Kilkenny, an Irish scholar and cleric who lived in the 13th century. He was renowned for his extensive knowledge of canon law and served as the Bishop of Kilkenny from 1230 to 1249.
Another notable figure with the name Bannon was Bannon MacLiam O'Byrne, an Irish chieftain who lived in the 15th century. He was a prominent leader of the O'Byrne clan and played a significant role in the Irish resistance against English rule during the Tudor conquest of Ireland.
In the 16th century, Bannon O'Donnelly was a renowned Irish poet and bard. He was known for his masterful compositions in the Irish language and his works were widely celebrated throughout Ireland during his lifetime.
Moving forward to the 18th century, Bannon O'Reilly was an Irish soldier who fought in the Irish Brigades of the French Army during the Nine Years' War and the War of the Spanish Succession. He was respected for his bravery and military leadership on the battlefield.
In the 19th century, Bannon Stafford was an Irish-American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for Connecticut from 1865 to 1869. He was an influential figure in the Democratic Party and played a significant role in shaping the political landscape of his time.
These are just a few examples of historical figures who carried the name Bannon. Throughout the centuries, this name has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, poets, warriors, and politicians, all of whom have left their mark on history.
People
Bannon + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Bannon as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Bannon: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Bannon?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 195 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Bannon going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,757,715 US residents.
Is Bannon a common name?
We classify Bannon as "Very Rare". It ranks above 73.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 197 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Bannon most popular?
The single biggest year for Bannon was 2016, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Bannon is about 13 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Bannon a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Bannon in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.