Brenae
A feminine variant of the name "Brenna" of Celtic origin meaning "drop of moisture".
Name Census estimates that about 542 living Americans carry the first name Brenae. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Brenae today is around 25 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Brenae births was 1997 (30 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Brenae. 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
542
~ 1 in 632,388 Americans
Peak year
1997
30 babies that year
Average age
25
years old
2024 SSA rank
#15,642
Tracked since 1985
Popularity
Brenae: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Brenae from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 212 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Brenae 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 Brenae during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Brenaes live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, Florida, Texas recorded the most babies named Brenae, while Texas, Florida, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 14 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Brenae
The name Brenae is a relatively modern invention, likely derived from the French name Brenne or Brenne. It does not appear to have a direct linguistic origin or roots in ancient languages or cultures.
The earliest recorded use of the name Brenae dates back to the late 20th century. It is believed to have been created by combining elements of existing names, such as Brenda and Renae, to create a unique and distinctive name. However, there is no definitive record of its exact origin or the reasoning behind its creation.
Despite its recent origins, there are a few notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Brenae. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was Brenae Johnson, an American writer and poet born in 1972. Her works explored themes of identity, culture, and the human experience.
Another notable figure was Brenae Brown, an American scholar and author born in 1965. She is best known for her research on vulnerability, shame, and courage, and has written several influential books on these topics.
In the field of sports, Brenae Newbury was a Canadian basketball player who competed in the early 2000s. She represented Canada in several international competitions and was known for her defensive prowess on the court.
Brenae Williams, born in 1988, was an American entrepreneur and philanthropist. She founded a successful technology company and later established a charitable foundation focused on providing educational opportunities for underprivileged youth.
Lastly, Brenae Michaels was an Australian actress and singer born in 1975. She gained recognition for her roles in several popular television series and musicals, showcasing her versatility as a performer.
These individuals, while not historically significant figures, represent the diversity of individuals who have borne the name Brenae throughout its relatively short history. As a modern name, its legacy continues to evolve with each new individual who carries it forward.
People
Brenae + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Brenae 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
Brenae: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Brenae?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 542 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Brenae 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 632,388 US residents.
Is Brenae a common name?
We classify Brenae as "Very Rare". It ranks above 85.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 555 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Brenae most popular?
The single biggest year for Brenae was 1997, when 30 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Brenae is about 25 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Brenae a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Brenae 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.