Brysten
A masculine name of modern coinage with unclear etymology.
Name Census estimates that about 136 living Americans carry the first name Brysten. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Brysten today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Brysten births was 2013 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Brysten. 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
136
~ 1 in 2,520,252 Americans
Peak year
2013
13 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2024 SSA rank
#10,027
Tracked since 2003
Popularity
Brysten: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Brysten from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 86 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
Brysten 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 Brysten 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 Brysten
The name Brysten is a modern variant of the English name Bryson, which has its origins in the Old English words "bri" meaning hill or ridge, and "sun" meaning son. It is believed to have first emerged as a surname in the 13th century, referring to someone who lived near a prominent hill or ridge.
While the exact origins of the spelling variation "Brysten" are unclear, it is likely a more recent alteration, perhaps influenced by the popularity of names ending in "-en" or "-sten" in recent decades. The earliest recorded use of this specific spelling is difficult to pinpoint, as it is a relatively uncommon variant.
In terms of historical references, the name Brysten itself does not appear to have any significant mentions in ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records. However, its root name Bryson has been documented in various genealogical records and census data throughout history.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Bryson was Bryson of Heraclea, a Greek mathematician and philosopher who lived in the 5th century BC. He is credited with calculating the circumference of the Earth with remarkable accuracy, using a combination of astronomical observations and geometric principles.
Another notable figure was Bryson Tiller, an American singer and rapper born in 1993. His breakthrough album, "Trapsoul," was released in 2015 and received critical acclaim, earning him several Grammy nominations and establishing him as a prominent figure in the contemporary R&B and hip-hop scene.
In the realm of sports, Bryson DeChambeau, born in 1993, is a professional golfer who has won multiple PGA Tour events, including the 2020 U.S. Open. Known for his scientific approach to the game and his prodigious driving distance, he has become one of the most recognizable names in modern golf.
Bryson Tiller, an American professional basketball player, was born in 1993 and played in the NBA for several teams, including the Boston Celtics and the Memphis Grizzlies. Although his career was relatively short-lived, he made a name for himself as a versatile guard with a strong defensive presence.
Finally, Bryson Ayres, born in 1982, is a Canadian actor best known for his roles in television shows such as "Suits" and "Frontier." His on-screen performances have garnered critical praise, and he continues to be a prominent figure in the Canadian entertainment industry.
While the specific spelling "Brysten" may be less common, it shares a rich history with its root name Bryson, which has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from ancient philosophers to modern-day artists and athletes.
People
Brysten + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Brysten 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
Brysten: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Brysten?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 136 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Brysten 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 2,520,252 US residents.
Is Brysten a common name?
We classify Brysten as "Very Rare". It ranks above 68.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 137 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Brysten most popular?
The single biggest year for Brysten was 2013, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Brysten is about 13 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 Brysten in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Brysten a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Brysten in the SSA data are male. 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 Brysten still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Brysten 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 Brysten 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 common is the name Brysten?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the name Brysten on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.