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

Popularity of Bret by gender

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

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 27 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Bret.

The history of the first name Bret

The name Bret originated from the French name Brice, which in turn derived from the Celtic British name Bricius. Bricius is thought to come from the Celtic root word "brix" meaning "freckled" or "speckled." The name Bret was most commonly found in countries like France, England, and Ireland during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bret appears in the 5th century, referring to Saint Brice (or Bricius), who was the Bishop of Tours in France from 444 to 444 AD. He was known for his charity work and for converting many pagans to Christianity in the region.

Another notable historical figure with the name Bret was Brice of Vendomois, a French nobleman and crusader who lived in the 12th century. He participated in the Third Crusade alongside King Richard I of England and is mentioned in chronicles from that period.

In the 13th century, there was a Bret de Winton, an English priest and scholar who served as the Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1292 to 1293. His writings on theology and philosophy were influential during that time.

One of the most famous individuals with the name Bret was Bret Harte (1836-1902), an American author and poet who was best known for his short stories and poems depicting the American Old West. He helped create the local color literary movement in the United States.

Another notable figure was Bret Maverick (1890-1962), an American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Texas from 1935 to 1939. He was also a leading figure in the conservative wing of the Democratic Party during the mid-20th century.

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

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

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