Branda
Of Old German origin, a feminine name meaning "fiery" or "glowing".
Name Census estimates that about 981 living Americans carry the first name Branda. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Branda today is around 46 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Branda births was 1973 (36 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Branda. 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
981
~ 1 in 349,393 Americans
Peak year
1973
36 babies that year
Average age
46
years old
2007 SSA rank
#15,808
Tracked since 1945
Popularity
Branda: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Branda from the 1940s through to the 2000s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 272 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Branda 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 Branda during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Brandas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. California, Texas, Florida recorded the most babies named Branda, while Illinois, Florida, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 13 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Branda
The name Branda is believed to have originated from the Old Norse language, which was spoken by the Norse people in Scandinavia during the Viking Age, approximately between the 8th and 11th centuries. It is derived from the Old Norse word "brandr," meaning "sword" or "firebrand," suggesting a connection to warriors or fierce individuals.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Branda can be found in the Icelandic sagas, which are prose narratives written in the 13th and 14th centuries. These sagas often featured characters with names rooted in Old Norse, reflecting the culture and traditions of the time. The name Branda is mentioned in the Saga of the Jómsvikings, which recounts the exploits of a legendary group of Viking mercenaries.
In the 9th century, a Viking chieftain named Branda is mentioned in the Gesta Danorum, a work of Danish history written by the medieval chronicler Saxo Grammaticus. Branda was described as a fierce warrior who participated in raids and battles across Scandinavia and the Baltic region. While details about his life are scarce, his name has endured as a representation of the Viking legacy.
Another historical figure bearing the name Branda was a Norwegian noblewoman who lived in the 12th century. She was the wife of Erling Skakke, a powerful chieftain and advisor to King Magnus V of Norway. Branda's name is recorded in the Heimskringla, a collection of sagas about the Norwegian kings, written by the Icelandic scholar Snorri Sturluson.
In the 13th century, a Swedish nobleman named Branda Jonsson is mentioned in medieval records as a member of the Folkunga dynasty, one of the most prominent noble families in Sweden during the Middle Ages. Branda Jonsson played a role in the political conflicts and power struggles that characterized the period.
Another notable figure with the name Branda was a Danish noblewoman who lived in the 15th century. Branda Olufsdatter was the daughter of a prominent Danish nobleman and was known for her involvement in various religious and charitable endeavors. She was instrumental in the establishment of a hospital and a convent in the city of Odense.
While the name Branda has its roots in Old Norse and was more commonly used in Scandinavia during the Viking Age and medieval period, it has also been adopted in other cultures over time, albeit to a lesser extent. The name's connection to strength, bravery, and warrior spirit has made it a unique and intriguing choice for parents seeking names with historical significance.
People
Branda + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Branda 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
Branda: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Branda?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 981 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Branda 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 349,393 US residents.
Is Branda a common name?
We classify Branda as "Very Rare". It ranks above 90% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,097 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Branda most popular?
The single biggest year for Branda was 1973, when 36 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Branda is about 46 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Branda a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Branda 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.
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.