Brinley first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Brinley has been for the last 37 years (from 1987 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Brinley

A feminine name of English origin meaning "burnt meadow".

Popularity of Brinley by gender

Based on the last 37 years of data, Brinley is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 99% of people named Brinley being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 620 female babies and 11 male babies born with the name Brinley.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 11 baby boys were named Brinley in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 11 620
2022 5 695
2021 5 798
2020 8 855
2019 7 809
2018 5 955
2017 7 1,000
2016 7 983
2015 8 785
2014 8 695
2013 14 596
2012 10 613
2011 8 547
2010 9 444
2009 0 362
2008 10 232
2007 7 229
2006 0 222
2005 0 198
2004 5 158
2003 6 136
2002 0 135
2001 5 94
2000 0 77
1999 0 60
1998 0 42
1997 6 24
1996 0 20
1995 0 16
1994 0 8
1993 0 11
1992 0 10
1991 0 10
1990 0 9
1988 0 8
1987 0 5

The history of the first name Brinley

The name Brinley is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "bryn" meaning "burn" or "stream" and "leah" meaning "woodland clearing" or "meadow." It was originally a surname given to those who lived near a small stream or brook in a woodland area.

The earliest recorded use of Brinley as a given name dates back to the late 16th century in England. One of the first known individuals with this first name was Sir Thomas Brinley, an English politician and Member of Parliament who lived from 1580 to 1653.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Brinley was primarily used as a masculine name among the English gentry and aristocracy. Notable bearers of the name during this time include Sir Francis Brinley (1632-1697), an English merchant and philanthropist, and Robert Brinley Sheridan (1751-1816), an Irish satirist, playwright, and politician.

In the 19th century, the name Brinley gained popularity as a feminine name, particularly in the United States. One of the earliest recorded examples of a woman named Brinley was Brinley Rhind (1824-1887), an American educator and writer who founded the Brinley School for Girls in New York City.

Another notable figure named Brinley was Brinley Richards (1819-1885), an English architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall.

In more recent times, the name Brinley has continued to be used as both a masculine and feminine name, though it is more commonly given to girls. Some other individuals who have borne the name include Brinley Codd (1910-1988), an Australian cricketer, and Brinley Rees (1919-2004), a Welsh composer and conductor.

While the name Brinley has its roots in Old English, it has travelled across various cultures and regions over the centuries, with individuals from diverse backgrounds bearing this name. Its connection to nature and the imagery of streams and woodland clearings has likely contributed to its enduring appeal.

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Brinley, 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!

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

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

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

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.