Trennan
An invented name possibly derived from the English word "trench".
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Trennan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Trennan today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Trennan births was 2013 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Trennan. 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 Trennan. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
2013
5 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2015 SSA rank
#13,871
Tracked since 2013
Popularity
Trennan: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Trennan 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 Trennan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Trennan
The given name Trennan has its origins rooted in ancient Celtic culture, specifically the Gaelic language branch. Linguists trace its etymology to the Old Irish word "trén," which translates to "strong" or "mighty." This association with strength and power is believed to have influenced the naming traditions of Celtic communities across the British Isles and parts of continental Europe.
In the early medieval period, variations of the name, such as Trenan and Trennan, were prevalent among the Gaelic-speaking populations of Ireland and Scotland. Historical records from this era indicate that the name was commonly bestowed upon male children, reflecting the cultural values of warrior societies and the admiration for physical prowess.
One of the earliest documented references to the name Trennan can be found in the ancient Irish epic, the "Táin Bó Cúailnge" (The Cattle Raid of Cooley), which dates back to the 8th century AD. In this legendary tale, a minor character bears the name Trennan, though little is known about their significance or role in the narrative.
Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the name Trennan. In the 12th century, Trennan Ua Ruairc was a prominent Irish chieftain from the Breffni region, known for his involvement in the Norman Invasion of Ireland. Another historical figure, Trennan Ó Máille, was a 16th-century Irish poet and musician from County Mayo, renowned for his compositions in the Gaelic tradition.
In more recent times, Trennan MacMonagle (1828-1901) was a Scottish-born Canadian farmer and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Across the Atlantic, Trennan Patrick (1948-2009) was an American author and journalist, best known for his critically acclaimed novels exploring themes of family, identity, and the African-American experience.
While the name Trennan may have waned in popularity over the centuries, it has maintained a strong presence within the Celtic cultural sphere, particularly in Ireland and Scotland. Its enduring legacy serves as a testament to the rich tapestry of naming traditions that have shaped the diverse identities of communities throughout history.
People
Trennan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Trennan as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Trennan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Trennan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Trennan 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 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Trennan a common name?
We classify Trennan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Trennan most popular?
The single biggest year for Trennan was 2013, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Trennan is about 12 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 Trennan in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Trennan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Trennan 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 Trennan still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Trennan 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 Trennan 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 Trennan as a first name?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.