What origin is the name Brian?

Brian comes from irish naming traditions. Names from this origin often carry meanings tied to nature, virtues or heritage.

Is Brian a popular name?

Brian is very rare in official US birth records — fewer than 5 babies of this gender were given the name in any year we checked.

What are good brother names for Brian?

Names from the same irish tradition pair naturally with Brian — for example Liam, Aiden, Aidan. You can browse more on our irish names page.

Brian

Q: Is Brian a rare name?

Yes. Brian does not appear in US Social Security birth records, which list every name given to at least 5 babies, so it is rare in the US.

Discover the meaning and origin of the name Brian

Brian

Unisex

irish

1 syllable

Brian is an irish unisex name meaning "Strong one; in use in england since the middle ages. possibly connected with the irish word for hill thus he ascends.. also some texts define it as strong. 10th century brian boru was a high king and great national hero of ireland; legendary son of turenn. strong; brought to england by the breton companions of william ".

Parents who choose Brian pick a unisex name from the irish tradition, meaning "Strong one; in use in england since the middle ages. possibly connected with the irish word for hill thus he ascends.. also some texts define it as strong. 10th century brian boru was a high king and great national hero of ireland; legendary son of turenn. strong; brought to england by the breton companions of william ". It has 1 syllable.

Origin: irish
Gender: Unisex
Syllables: 1

Meaning compiled from public name lists.

Meaning

Strong one; in use in england since the middle ages. possibly connected with the irish word for hill thus he ascends.. also some texts define it as strong. 10th century brian boru was a high king and great national hero of ireland; legendary son of turenn. strong; brought to england by the breton companions of william

Popularity

Very rare in US records (source: US Social Security Administration birth records (best rank 2008–2017))

Quick answers about Brian

Very rare in US records

What does Brian mean?

Brian is a unisex name of irish origin meaning "Strong one; in use in england since the middle ages. possibly connected with the irish word for hill thus he ascends.. also some texts define it as strong. 10th century brian boru was a high king and great national hero of ireland; legendary son of turenn. strong; brought to england by the breton companions of william ".

Is Brian a rare name?

Yes. Brian does not appear in official US birth records for 2017, meaning fewer than 5 babies got the name that year.

Brother names that go with Brian

Liam Aiden Aidan Sean Declan Patrick

Combine Brian with another name

Our free name combiner blends two names into new baby name ideas.

Names with a similar meaning to Brian

Brian means "Strong one; in use in england since the middle ages. possibly connected with the irish word for hill thus he ascends.. also some texts define it as strong. 10th century brian boru was a high king and great national hero of ireland; legendary son of turenn. strong; brought to england by the breton companions of william " — these names share that spirit.