Branae
A feminine name of uncertain meaning, perhaps derived from Irish Gaelic.
Name Census estimates that about 68 living Americans carry the first name Branae. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Branae today is around 21 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Branae births was 2006 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Branae. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Branae. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
68
~ 1 in 5,040,505 Americans
Peak year
2006
11 babies that year
Average age
21
years old
2011 SSA rank
#12,349
Tracked since 1998
Popularity
Branae: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Branae from the 1990s through to the 2010s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 45 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Branae remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Branae 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 Branae during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Branaes live
Origin
Meaning and history of Branae
The name Branae is an uncommon and intriguing moniker with a rich historical background. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Celtic language, where it derives from the Proto-Celtic root *bran, meaning "raven" or "crow." This connection to the iconic black bird imbues the name with a sense of mystery and symbolism.
In early medieval times, Branae emerged as a personal name among the Celtic tribes that inhabited the British Isles and parts of continental Europe. It was particularly prevalent in regions such as Wales, Cornwall, and Brittany, where the Celtic culture and traditions held strong.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Branae can be found in the 6th-century Welsh epic poem, the "Gododdin," which recounts the tales of a legendary British prince. Here, the name is mentioned in connection with a valiant warrior, suggesting its association with strength and bravery.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Branae. In the 9th century, Branae ap Rhodri was a Welsh prince and heir to the Kingdom of Gwynedd, renowned for his leadership and military prowess. Another figure of significance was Branae of Cumbria, a 10th-century ruler who played a pivotal role in the political landscape of northern England during the Viking Age.
Moving forward in time, the name Branae gained prominence in medieval Brittany, where it was associated with several influential families and individuals. One such figure was Branae de Penhoët, a 13th-century Breton noblewoman known for her patronage of the arts and her involvement in religious affairs.
Across the English Channel, Branae also found its way into the annals of English history. In the 14th century, Branae de Montfort was a respected scholar and cleric who served as the Bishop of Salisbury, contributing to the intellectual and religious discourse of his time.
While the name Branae may have fallen into relative obscurity in more recent centuries, its rich historical legacy and evocative symbolism continue to captivate those with an appreciation for the unique and the profound.
People
Branae + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Branae 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
Branae: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Branae?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 68 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Branae 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 5,040,505 US residents.
Is Branae a common name?
We classify Branae as "Very Rare". It ranks above 58.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 69 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Branae most popular?
The single biggest year for Branae was 2006, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Branae is about 21 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Branae in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Branae a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Branae in the SSA data are female. 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.
Is Branae still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Branae in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Branae can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Branae?
Find out how many Americans are named Branae on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.