Brennan first name popularity, history and meaning

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

Meaning of Brennan

A masculine given name of Irish origin meaning "descendant of the sorrow".

Popularity of Brennan by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Brennan is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 94% of people named Brennan being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 212 male babies and 16 female babies born with the name Brennan.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 16 baby girls were named Brennan in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 212 16
2022 224 25
2021 265 30
2020 314 32
2019 339 32
2018 382 30
2017 464 44
2016 549 35
2015 689 40
2014 806 57
2013 927 66
2012 1,011 73
2011 1,177 87
2010 1,279 81
2009 1,464 86
2008 1,316 83
2007 1,207 100
2006 1,115 69
2005 1,054 47
2004 1,061 63
2003 1,127 41
2002 1,121 58
2001 1,121 60
2000 1,158 42
1999 1,106 58
1998 1,051 65
1997 967 52
1996 895 60
1995 916 62
1994 756 76
1993 663 57
1992 643 50
1991 698 53
1990 606 41
1989 445 33
1988 460 28
1987 422 34
1986 292 30
1985 253 20
1984 232 28
1983 182 25
1982 152 19
1981 139 14
1980 142 23
1979 136 16
1978 123 16
1977 108 8
1976 99 10
1975 102 11
1974 89 7

The history of the first name Brennan

The name Brennan has its origins in the Gaelic language, specifically in Irish Gaelic. It is derived from the Old Irish word "brennu," which means "a descendant of Bran." Bran is an ancient Celtic name that has been interpreted to mean "raven" or "crow."

The earliest recorded use of the name Brennan dates back to the 5th century AD in Ireland. It was originally a surname that eventually became adopted as a given name. The name was particularly popular among Irish families with connections to the ancient Irish kingdom of Leinster.

In Irish mythology, Bran is a prominent figure. He is featured in the Irish mythological cycle known as the "Fenian Cycle," which contains stories about the legendary hero Finn MacCool and his band of warriors called the Fianna. Bran is depicted as a powerful and wise leader.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Brennan was Saint Brennan of Clonfert, who lived in the 6th century AD. He was an Irish monk and scholar who established numerous monasteries in Ireland and is credited with bringing Christianity to parts of the country.

Another notable historical figure with the name Brennan was Brennan of Armagh, who lived in the 7th century AD. He was a renowned Irish scholar and abbot who helped establish the monastic school at Armagh, which became a significant center of learning in medieval Europe.

In the 12th century, Brennan O'Rourke was a prominent Irish chieftain and military leader who fought against the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland. He was known for his bravery and resistance against the invading forces.

During the 16th century, Brennan Connell was an Irish poet and bard who composed numerous works in the Gaelic tradition. His poems and songs were widely appreciated and helped preserve Irish cultural heritage during a time of colonial oppression.

In more recent history, Brennan Manning (1934-2013) was an American author, theologian, and public speaker. He is best known for his influential book "The Ragamuffin Gospel," which explored the concept of God's unconditional love and grace.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Brennan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/brennan-meaning-and-history/.

"Brennan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/brennan-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

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

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