Brenda first name popularity, history and meaning

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

Meaning of Brenda

A feminine name of Old English origin meaning "fiery or inflamed".

Popularity of Brenda by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Brenda is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 99% of people named Brenda being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 176 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Brenda.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 176
2022 0 187
2021 0 197
2020 0 180
2019 0 236
2018 0 257
2017 0 294
2016 0 340
2015 0 349
2014 0 384
2013 0 439
2012 0 561
2011 0 546
2010 0 735
2009 0 780
2008 0 968
2007 5 1,231
2006 0 1,419
2005 7 1,661
2004 11 1,660
2003 7 1,442
2002 6 1,550
2001 5 1,736
2000 0 1,898
1999 0 1,979
1998 9 2,133
1997 11 2,159
1996 11 2,416
1995 29 2,610
1994 28 2,655
1993 35 2,884
1992 28 2,827
1991 44 2,634
1990 32 2,633
1989 44 2,270
1988 42 2,285
1987 46 2,151
1986 50 2,240
1985 36 2,387
1984 31 2,497
1983 30 2,431
1982 25 2,517
1981 30 2,721
1980 24 2,648
1979 22 2,769
1978 14 2,873
1977 17 3,152
1976 17 3,587
1975 25 4,238
1974 17 4,829

The history of the first name Brenda

The name Brenda is of Old Norse origin, derived from the Old Norse word "brandr," meaning "sword" or "firebrand." It was initially used as a masculine name among the Vikings and Scandinavian cultures during the Middle Ages.

In the early medieval period, the name Brenda was primarily found in areas with significant Norse influence, such as Iceland, Norway, and parts of the British Isles. It gained popularity as a feminine name in England during the 19th century, likely due to its association with the word "brand," which had taken on a symbolic meaning of strength and resilience.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Brenda can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, where it appeared as a male name. However, there are no known historical figures from that era specifically named Brenda.

The earliest known individual with the name Brenda was an English woman named Brenda Trotswell, who lived in the late 13th century. She was a landowner and benefactor from Norfolk, England.

In the 16th century, Brenda Harrington was a notable English woman who served as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth I. She was born around 1550 and played a significant role in the royal court during the Elizabethan era.

During the Victorian era, Brenda Frederica Bullock was a British author and poet who published several works, including "Poems of Study and Idleness" in 1885. She was born in 1838 and contributed to the burgeoning literary scene of the time.

In the 20th century, Brenda Frazier was a pioneering African American artist and sculptor. Born in 1908, she was known for her intricate woodcarvings and her involvement in the Harlem Renaissance movement.

Another notable figure was Brenda Hale, a British legal scholar and the first woman to serve as President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. She was born in 1945 and has been a trailblazer in the field of law and gender equality.

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 Brenda was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Brenda first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/brenda-meaning-and-history/.

"Brenda first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/brenda-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

Brenda first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/brenda-meaning-and-history/.

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