Branan
A masculine name of obscure origins, possibly Gaelic or Irish in nature.
Name Census estimates that about 7 living Americans carry the first name Branan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Branan today is around 23 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Branan births was 2003 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Branan. 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 Branan. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
7
~ 1 in 48,964,905 Americans
Peak year
2003
7 babies that year
Average age
23
years old
2003 SSA rank
#8,769
Tracked since 2003
Popularity
Branan: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Branan 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 Branan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Branan
The name Branan is believed to have originated from the Gaelic language, which was spoken in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. The name is thought to have been derived from the Old Irish word "bran," which means "raven" or "crow." It's possible that the name was initially used to refer to someone with dark hair or complexion, resembling the color of a raven.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Branan can be traced back to the 7th century, when it was mentioned in the Annals of Ulster, an ancient chronicle that documented events in Ireland and parts of Scotland. The name appeared in reference to a notable figure, Branan of Dál Riata, who was a prince and warrior from the Irish kingdom of Dál Riata, located in what is now western Scotland and northeastern Ireland.
In the 9th century, the name Branan was also mentioned in the Annals of Inisfallen, another medieval Irish chronicle. This time, it referred to Branan mac Áeda, who was a king of the Uí Fhiachrach Aidne, a dynastic family from the Irish province of Connacht.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Branan. One of the earliest recorded was Branan mac Conail (died 802), who was an Irish abbot and scholar from the monastery of Clonmacnoise. Another was Branan mac Ecnecháin (died 1025), a noted Irish poet and cleric from the Kingdom of Uí Maine.
In the 12th century, Branan Ó Máille (born c. 1120) was a prominent Irish chieftain and lord of the Ó Máille clan, which ruled over parts of what is now County Mayo, Ireland. A century later, Branan Ó Cuirnín (died 1245) was an Irish hereditary poet and historian from County Sligo.
Jumping forward to the 16th century, there was Branan MacSweeny (born c. 1510), who was a renowned Irish physician and medical writer from County Donegal. He is known for his treatise on the Irish medical tradition, which provided valuable insights into the practices and knowledge of Irish physicians during that era.
While the name Branan may have its roots in ancient Irish and Gaelic culture, it remains a relatively uncommon name in modern times. However, its historical significance and connection to notable figures from Ireland's past continue to make it a fascinating and intriguing name to explore.
People
Branan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Branan 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
Branan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Branan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 7 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Branan 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 48,964,905 US residents.
Is Branan a common name?
We classify Branan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 23.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 7 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Branan most popular?
The single biggest year for Branan was 2003, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Branan is about 23 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 Branan in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Branan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Branan 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.
Is Branan still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Branan 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 Branan 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 Americans are named Branan?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.