Brin
A French given name derived from the Old French word "brin" meaning "fiber" or "straw".
Name Census estimates that about 439 living Americans carry the first name Brin. It is a predominantly female name (91.8% of registrations). The average person named Brin today is around 24 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Brin births was 2003 (21 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Brin. 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
439
~ 1 in 780,762 Americans
Peak year
2003
21 babies that year
Average age
24
years old
1998 SSA rank
#8,603
Tracked since 1978
Gender
Gender distribution for Brin
Brin leans heavily female at 91.8% of total registrations, but 37 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Brin as a male name
- Ranked #8,603 in 1998
- 6 male births in 1998
- Peak: 1986 (8 births)
Brin as a female name
- Ranked #11,299 in 2021
- 8 female births in 2021
- Peak: 2003 (21 births)
Popularity
Brin: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Brin from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 137 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Brin 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 Brin 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 Brin
The name Brin originates from the Old Celtic language and is believed to have derived from the word "bren," which means "hill" or "ridge." This name was prevalent among the ancient Celtic tribes that inhabited parts of modern-day France, Germany, and the British Isles during the Iron Age and Roman era.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Brin can be found in ancient Gaulish inscriptions from the 1st century BCE. These inscriptions were discovered in various archaeological sites across modern-day France and provide evidence of the name's usage among the Gaulish people.
In the medieval period, the name Brin appeared in several historical records and literature from the British Isles. It was particularly common among the Welsh and Cornish populations, where it was often associated with stories and legends from Celtic mythology.
One notable figure bearing the name Brin was Brin the Blessed, a legendary Welsh king who ruled in the 5th century CE. According to Welsh folklore, he was renowned for his wisdom, justice, and generosity, and his reign was marked by prosperity and peace.
In the 12th century, the name Brin was mentioned in the medieval Welsh chronicle known as the "Brut y Brenhinedd" (Chronicle of the Kings), which recounted the history of the Welsh rulers and their deeds.
During the Renaissance period, the name Brin gained popularity among certain literary circles in Europe. One notable figure was Brin Van Hoogstraten, a Dutch poet and playwright who lived from 1572 to 1636. His works, which included plays and sonnets, were well-regarded in his time and contributed to the cultural renaissance in the Netherlands.
Another historical figure with the name Brin was Brin Shindler, a German-born American artist and engraver who lived from 1828 to 1892. He was known for his intricate engravings and illustrations, many of which were featured in prominent publications of the time.
In more recent times, the name Brin has been associated with notable figures such as Brin-Jonathan Butler, a South African singer-songwriter and activist born in 1977. He has used his music and platform to promote social justice and human rights causes.
It is worth noting that while the name Brin has its roots in ancient Celtic culture, it has transcended its geographical origins and has been adopted by various cultures and societies throughout history, each adding their own unique interpretations and associations to this name.
People
Brin + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Brin 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
Brin: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Brin?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 439 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Brin 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 780,762 US residents.
Is Brin a common name?
We classify Brin as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 450 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Brin most popular?
The single biggest year for Brin was 2003, when 21 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Brin is about 24 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Brin a female name?
Yes, 91.8% of people registered as Brin 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.