Briel
A feminine name likely derived from the French place name Briel.
Name Census estimates that about 701 living Americans carry the first name Briel. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Briel today is around 18 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Briel births was 2012 (39 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Briel. 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
701
~ 1 in 488,951 Americans
Peak year
2012
39 babies that year
Average age
18
years old
2024 SSA rank
#10,391
Tracked since 1987
Popularity
Briel: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Briel from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 290 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Briel 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 Briel during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Briel
The name Briel is believed to have originated from the Dutch language, derived from the word "bril," meaning "glasses" or "spectacles." The name's origins can be traced back to the Netherlands and surrounding regions during the Middle Ages.
In Dutch-speaking communities, the name Briel was often bestowed upon individuals who worked as spectacle makers or sellers, reflecting their occupation and association with eyeglasses. This connection to the trade of optics and vision aids contributed to the name's early significance and usage.
Records indicate that the name Briel appeared in various historical documents and records from the 16th century onwards, particularly in the Netherlands and neighboring areas where Dutch influence was prominent. However, its usage as a given name predates these written records, suggesting an even earlier origin.
One of the earliest known individuals bearing the name Briel was Hendrick Briel, a Dutch spectacle maker who lived in the city of Leiden in the late 16th century. His contribution to the art of lens-making and the production of eyeglasses helped solidify the name's association with this craft.
Another notable figure was Pieter Briel, a Dutch engraver and painter who lived during the 17th century. His artistic works, particularly his engravings depicting scenes from daily life, have been preserved and showcased in various museums and collections.
In the 18th century, Johanna Briel, a Dutch writer and poet, gained recognition for her literary works and contributions to the cultural landscape of her time. Her poems and writings were widely celebrated and brought further prominence to the name Briel.
Moving into the 19th century, Jan Briel, a Dutch architect, left a lasting legacy through his architectural designs and contributions to the built environment of several Dutch cities, including Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
Lastly, in the 20th century, Dirk Briel, a Dutch physicist and scientist, made significant advancements in the field of optics and laser technology, further reinforcing the name's association with vision and optical instruments.
While the name Briel may have its roots in the Dutch language and culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and found widespread usage across various regions and communities over the centuries.
People
Briel + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Briel 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
Briel: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Briel?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 701 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Briel 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 488,951 US residents.
Is Briel a common name?
We classify Briel as "Very Rare". It ranks above 87.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 712 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Briel most popular?
The single biggest year for Briel was 2012, when 39 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Briel is about 18 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Briel a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Briel 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.