Brien
Boy name · Celtic · English · Irish
Meaninghigh, noble · English form of Brian
- US rank
- #9,714
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #766 in 1963
7 babies were named Brien in the US in 2025. It has dropped 160 places in five years.
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US births per million boys, 1925–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Brien you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 243,902 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Brien, 7 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Brien would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryBrien first shows up in US birth records in 1925, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 100 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1963, when it ranked #766. Today it's #9,714, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowBrien was 3.7× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 65,359 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 243,902.
- TrendBrien has slipped 160 places over the last five years and now sits at #9,714. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningBrien is an English form of Brian, which means “high, noble”. Our records link it to Celtic, English and Irish roots.
About the name Brien
Brien is a boy name of Celtic, English and Irish origin meaning “high, noble”. It has 5 letters and 1 syllable, starting with B and ending in “-ien”. US birth records list Brien for boys from 1925 to 2025, in 86 of those 101 years. Its best year was 1963, when it ranked #766 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #9,714, with 7 babies.
Origin:Celtic namesEnglish namesIrish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 1.8 | 555,556 boys |
| 1930s | 1.7 | 588,235 boys |
| 1940s | 7.9 | 126,743 boys |
| 1950s | 23 | 42,955 boys |
| 1960s | 44 | 22,573 boys |
| 1970s | 42 | 23,981 boys |
| 1980s | 33 | 30,618 boys |
| 1990s | 24 | 42,319 boys |
| 2000s | 12 | 81,103 boys |
| 2010s | 4.9 | 204,499 boys |
| 2020s | 2.4 | 410,959 boys |
Other spellings of Brien
More Celtic boy names
- Unisex name: Owen · well-born
- Unisex name: Logan · little hollow
- Unisex name: Rowan · little red-haired one
- Unisex name: Nolan · descendant of Nuallán
- Unisex name: Cameron · crooked nose
- Boy name: Ian · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Gael · a Gael
- Boy name: Arthur · possibly bear
Questions about the name Brien
What does the name Brien mean?
Brien means “high, noble” in English, as a form of Brian.
What is the origin of the name Brien?
Brien has Celtic, English, Irish roots in our records. Other Celtic names include Owen, Logan, Rowan.
Is Brien a boy or girl name?
Brien is a boy name.
How popular is the name Brien?
Brien ranked #9,714 for US boys in 2025, given to 7 babies. Its best year was 1963 (#766).