Bryan first name popularity, history and meaning

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

Meaning of Bryan

From an Irish surname meaning "descendant of the high or noble one".

Popularity of Bryan by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Bryan is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Bryan being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,079 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Bryan.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 1,079 0
2022 1,167 0
2021 1,209 5
2020 1,358 0
2019 1,423 0
2018 1,639 0
2017 1,838 0
2016 2,127 5
2015 2,491 0
2014 2,729 9
2013 2,892 0
2012 3,083 10
2011 3,519 7
2010 3,935 13
2009 4,855 9
2008 5,505 14
2007 6,180 11
2006 6,698 16
2005 6,454 11
2004 6,732 29
2003 6,618 20
2002 6,616 24
2001 6,125 26
2000 6,143 27
1999 5,390 23
1998 5,308 13
1997 5,252 24
1996 5,560 17
1995 5,444 17
1994 5,603 22
1993 6,158 36
1992 6,835 27
1991 6,757 34
1990 7,438 29
1989 7,852 36
1988 8,037 53
1987 8,561 61
1986 8,651 56
1985 8,718 71
1984 8,269 63
1983 8,191 69
1982 7,497 56
1981 7,215 49
1980 7,512 65
1979 7,444 40
1978 7,290 55
1977 7,889 44
1976 7,293 40
1975 7,007 34
1974 7,230 42

The history of the first name Bryan

The name Bryan is an English given name derived from the Old Celtic Brythonic word "brico" or "bricco", meaning "speckled" or "freckled". It is thought to have originated as a nickname for someone with a freckled complexion. The name was first recorded in England in the 11th century during the Norman Conquest.

The earliest known bearer of the name Bryan was Brian Boru, an Irish king who reigned from 1002 to 1014 CE. He is renowned for driving the Vikings out of Ireland and establishing himself as the High King of Ireland. The name Brian is a variation of Bryan, which later became more popular in England due to the Norman influence.

One of the most famous historical figures with the name Bryan was Bryan Falvier, a French knight and crusader who fought in the Third Crusade in the late 12th century. He was known for his bravery and skill in battle and is mentioned in several chronicles from that time.

Another notable bearer of the name was Bryan Fitzpatrick, an Irish chieftain who lived in the 14th century. He was the Lord of Ossory and played a significant role in the conflicts between the Irish clans and the Anglo-Norman settlers in Ireland during that period.

In the 15th century, Bryan Roche, an Irish-Norman nobleman and soldier, was a prominent figure in the Wars of the Roses in England. He fought for the House of York and was killed in the Battle of Wakefield in 1460.

Moving forward to the 16th century, Bryan Annesley was an English lawyer and politician who served as the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal under King Charles I. He played an important role in the political struggles leading up to the English Civil War.

These are just a few examples of historical figures who bore the name Bryan. The name has a rich history and has been used across various cultures and time periods, reflecting its enduring popularity and significance.

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

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

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"Bryan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 3, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/bryan-meaning-and-history/.

"Bryan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/bryan-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 3 December, 2024

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

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