Find out how popular the first name Breanna has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Breanna by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Breanna is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Breanna being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 119 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Breanna.

The history of the first name Breanna

Breanna is an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name Bríghid, which means "exalted one" or "the high one." The name can be traced back to the ancient Celtic goddess Brigid, who was associated with fire, poetry, and healing. In Irish mythology, Brigid was one of the most revered and widely-celebrated deities, and her name was later adopted as a popular given name for girls.

The name Bríghid is derived from the Old Celtic word "brig," meaning "high" or "exalted," and it was first recorded in the 5th century CE. The anglicized version, Breanna, emerged in the 20th century as a variant spelling, possibly influenced by the similar-sounding name Brianna.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bríghid can be found in the 7th century hagiography of St. Brigid of Kildare, a Catholic saint who was likely inspired by the ancient goddess. St. Brigid is celebrated on February 1st, which was formerly the Celtic festival of Imbolc, associated with the goddess Brigid.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Breanna or variations of the name. One of the earliest recorded was Breanna of Rathangan (c. 1050-1120), an Irish noblewoman and patron of the arts. Another famous bearer of the name was Breanna Ní Dhubhchonna (c. 1340-1415), a renowned Irish poet and musician.

In more recent times, notable individuals named Breanna include Breanna Stewart (born 1994), an American professional basketball player and two-time Olympic gold medalist; Breanna Cameron (born 1984), an American model and actress; and Breanna Doyle (born 1995), an Irish professional footballer.

Overall, the name Breanna has a rich and ancient history, rooted in Celtic mythology and tradition, and has been borne by numerous notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Breanna was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Breanna, please contact us.

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