Brindle
A color pattern of streaked or striped hair or fur.
Name Census estimates that about 75 living Americans carry the first name Brindle. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Brindle today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Brindle births was 2017 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Brindle. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Brindle. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
75
~ 1 in 4,570,058 Americans
Peak year
2017
10 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2022 SSA rank
#12,470
Tracked since 1952
Popularity
Brindle: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Brindle from the 1950s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 58 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
Brindle 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 Brindle 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 Brindle
The name Brindle is believed to have originated as an English surname derived from the Old English word "brindel," which means "brindled" or "streaked with different colors." It was initially used to describe someone with streaked or mottled hair or complexion.
In its earliest recorded uses, Brindle was a descriptive surname given to individuals who displayed distinct physical characteristics, rather than a traditional given name. It gradually transitioned into a given name over time, likely due to the practice of adopting surnames as first names.
One of the earliest recorded instances of Brindle as a given name can be found in the 16th century. In 1582, Brindle Goffe was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. He was a notable figure in his time, serving as a Member of Parliament and a Justice of the Peace.
Another notable individual with the name Brindle was Brindle Barber, born in 1688 in Staffordshire, England. He was a renowned clockmaker and is credited with creating some of the most intricate and beautiful clocks of his era.
In the 18th century, Brindle Fitzpatrick, born in 1726 in County Mayo, Ireland, was a prominent figure in the Irish Rebellion of 1798. He played a significant role in the uprising against British rule and is remembered as a patriot and freedom fighter.
Moving into the 19th century, Brindle Westmacott, born in 1810 in London, England, was a celebrated sculptor. His works adorned many public buildings and monuments, and he is considered one of the foremost sculptors of the Victorian era.
Lastly, in the early 20th century, Brindle Mercer, born in 1901 in Lancashire, England, was a renowned cricket player. He represented England in several Test matches and is remembered for his exceptional batting skills and sportsmanship.
While the name Brindle may have originated as a descriptor of physical appearance, it has evolved into a unique and distinctive given name with a rich history spanning several centuries. The individuals mentioned above are just a few examples of the many notable figures who have borne this name throughout history.
People
Brindle + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Brindle 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
Brindle: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Brindle?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 75 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Brindle 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 4,570,058 US residents.
Is Brindle a common name?
We classify Brindle as "Very Rare". It ranks above 60.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 78 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Brindle most popular?
The single biggest year for Brindle was 2017, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Brindle is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Brindle in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Brindle a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Brindle 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.
Is Brindle still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Brindle in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Brindle can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Brindle as a first name?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.