Byran
Byran is an English masculine name derived from the Welsh name Brian, meaning "high" or "noble".
Name Census estimates that about 1,284 living Americans carry the first name Byran. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Byran today is around 42 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Byran births was 1986 (48 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Byran. 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
1.3K
~ 1 in 266,943 Americans
Peak year
1986
48 babies that year
Average age
42
years old
2021 SSA rank
#12,437
Tracked since 1921
Popularity
Byran: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Byran from the 1920s through to the 2020s, spanning 10 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 372 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Byran 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 Byran during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Byrans live
The SSA's state-level files cover 6 states and territories. California, Texas, New York recorded the most babies named Byran, while Tennessee, Georgia, Florida recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 20 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Byran
The name Byran is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "byre," meaning "barn" or "cattle-shed." It is believed to have emerged as a surname in medieval times, referring to someone who lived or worked near a barn or cowshed.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Byran dates back to the 13th century, when it appeared in the Hundred Rolls of 1273 as a surname. This historical record was a census-like document that listed landowners in England at the time.
While the name Byran does not have any direct ties to religious texts or ancient scriptures, it has been borne by several notable individuals throughout history. One such person was Byran Tew, an English Puritan clergyman who lived from 1566 to 1644. He was known for his work as a minister and his opposition to the policies of the Church of England under Archbishop William Laud.
Another historically significant figure with the name Byran was Sir Byran de Walden, a 14th-century English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War. He was recorded as participating in the Battle of Crécy in 1346, where the English forces led by Edward III defeated the French army.
In the realm of literature, Byran Waller Procter (1787-1858) was an English poet and literary critic who published under the pseudonym "Barry Cornwall." He was a contemporary of Lord Byron and was known for his lyrical poetry and critical essays.
Moving to more recent times, Byran Untiedt (1941-2020) was an American musician and songwriter who co-founded the influential rock band Nazareth. He was the band's lead singer and primary songwriter, contributing to their hits like "Love Hurts" and "Hair of the Dog."
Another notable bearer of the name was Byran Preston, an American journalist and political commentator who gained prominence in the late 20th and early 21st centuries for his conservative views and commentary on various media outlets.
While these examples provide a glimpse into the historical and cultural significance of the name Byran, it is important to note that the name's origins and usage have evolved over time, reflecting the diverse communities and individuals who have embraced it.
People
Byran + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Byran 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
Byran: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Byran?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,284 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Byran 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 266,943 US residents.
Is Byran a common name?
We classify Byran as "Rare". It ranks above 91.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,400 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Byran most popular?
The single biggest year for Byran was 1986, when 48 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Byran is about 42 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Byran a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Byran 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.
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.