Breckett
A variant of the English surname Brecket, itself derived from a place name.
Name Census estimates that about 15 living Americans carry the first name Breckett. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Breckett today is around 3 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Breckett births was 2023 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Breckett. 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 Breckett. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
15
~ 1 in 22,850,289 Americans
Peak year
2023
8 babies that year
Average age
3
years old
2023 SSA rank
#9,032
Tracked since 2022
Popularity
Breckett: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Breckett 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 Breckett during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 15 | 0 | 15 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Breckett
The given name Breckett is believed to have originated from the Old English language, tracing its roots back to the early medieval period of Britain. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. In this historical document, the name appears as "Brecket," referring to a landowner or tenant from the region now known as Norfolk.
The name Breckett is thought to be derived from the Old English word "bræc," which means a breach or gap, often associated with a breach in a hedge or fence. It may have been used as a descriptive name for someone who lived near a gap or breach in a boundary. Alternatively, some linguists suggest that the name could also have originated from the Old English word "bræcan," meaning to break or shatter, perhaps referring to a person with a reputation for being a formidable warrior or fighter.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Breckett. One of the earliest recorded examples is Breckett of Laleham, a 12th-century English monk and scribe renowned for his calligraphic skills and illuminated manuscripts. Another notable figure was Sir Breckett Fitz-Hugh (1295-1357), a prominent English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War and was renowned for his bravery on the battlefield.
In the 15th century, Breckett Smythe (1412-1478) was a respected English merchant and trader who played a significant role in establishing trade routes between England and the Netherlands. His successful business ventures contributed to the economic prosperity of his time. Later, in the 17th century, Breckett Willoughby (1632-1701) was a renowned English botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of plant life and wrote several influential treatises on the subject.
One of the most famous bearers of the name was Breckett Stevenson (1850-1894), a Scottish novelist, poet, and travel writer, best known for his works such as "Treasure Island" and "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." His literary works have had a lasting impact on literature and popular culture, and he remains a celebrated figure in the literary world.
While the name Breckett may not be as common today as it once was, it carries a rich historical legacy, spanning centuries and various cultural contexts. Its origins in Old English and its association with the medieval period of Britain make it a fascinating name with a unique and enduring heritage.
People
Breckett + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Breckett 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
Breckett: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Breckett?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 15 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Breckett 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 22,850,289 US residents.
Is Breckett a common name?
We classify Breckett as "Very Rare". It ranks above 35.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 15 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Breckett most popular?
The single biggest year for Breckett was 2023, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Breckett is about 3 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 Breckett in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Breckett a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Breckett 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 Breckett still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Breckett 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 Breckett 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 have Breckett as a first name?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.