Brasher
An English surname transferred to a given name.
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Brasher. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Brasher today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Brasher births was 2015 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Brasher. 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 Brasher. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
2015
6 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2015 SSA rank
#10,858
Tracked since 2015
Popularity
Brasher: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Brasher 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 Brasher during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Brasher
The given name Brasher has its origins rooted in the Old English language, where it is believed to have derived from the word "brasio," which translates to "maker of brass." This etymological connection suggests that the name was likely first used in reference to someone who worked as a brass maker or artisan.
The earliest known records of the name Brasher date back to the 13th century in England, where it was primarily concentrated in the northern regions of the country. During this period, the name was often spelled with variations such as "Brasser," "Brassere," and "Brassour," reflecting the regional dialects and linguistic evolutions of the time.
While there are no direct references to the name Brasher in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it is worth noting that the metalworking trade was highly valued in many ancient civilizations, including those of Greece, Rome, and Egypt. This could indicate that the name's association with brass-making has deep historical roots.
One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the name Brasher was William Brasher, a prominent English politician who served as a member of the House of Commons in the late 15th century. Another notable figure was John Brasher, a skilled clockmaker who lived in London during the 17th century and was renowned for his intricate and innovative timepiece designs.
In the realm of literature, the name Brasher is associated with Ebenezer Brasher, an American poet and writer who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His most celebrated work, "The Brasher Sonnets," explored themes of nature, love, and the human condition.
During the American Revolutionary War, Ephraim Brasher gained recognition as a skilled engraver and silversmith. He was commissioned to create the famous "Brasher Doubloon," a highly prized and valuable coin that is now considered a numismatic rarity.
In the 20th century, one of the most notable figures with the name Brasher was Philip Brasher, a British artist and sculptor whose works were widely celebrated for their bold and innovative style. His creations can be found in numerous public spaces and private collections around the world.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the name Brasher throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural and historical significance associated with this given name.
People
Brasher + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Brasher 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
Brasher: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Brasher?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Brasher 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 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Brasher a common name?
We classify Brasher as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Brasher most popular?
The single biggest year for Brasher was 2015, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Brasher is about 11 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 Brasher in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Brasher a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Brasher 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 Brasher still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Brasher 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 Brasher 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 Brasher?
You can see how many people share the name Brasher on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.