Bryan
Boy name · Celtic · English · Gaelic · Irish · Scottish
Meaningpossibly noble, strong · Irish form of Brian
- US rank
- #336
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #42 in 1977
1,005 babies were named Bryan in the US in 2025. It has dropped 77 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1883–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Bryan you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 1,700 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Bryan, 1,005 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Bryan would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryBryan first shows up in US birth records in 1883, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 142 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1977, when it ranked #42. Today it's #336, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowBryan was 5.3× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 320 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 1,700.
- TrendBryan has slipped 77 places over the last five years and now sits at #336. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedBryan is most popular in Massachusetts, where it ranks #104, followed by Florida (#168) and Delaware (#203). It's in the top 1,000 in 35 states.
- MeaningBryan is an Irish form of Brian, which means “possibly noble, strong”. Our records link it to Celtic, English and Gaelic roots.
About the name Bryan
Bryan is a boy name of Celtic, English and Gaelic origin meaning “possibly noble, strong”. It has 5 letters and 1 syllable, starting with B and ending in “-yan”. US birth records list Bryan for boys from 1883 to 2025, in 137 of those 143 years. Its best year was 1977, when it ranked #42 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #336, with 1,005 babies.
Origin:Celtic namesEnglish namesGaelic namesIrish namesScottish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 15 | 68,359 boys |
| 1890s | 347 | 2,879 boys |
| 1900s | 142 | 7,058 boys |
| 1910s | 69 | 14,520 boys |
| 1920s | 105 | 9,490 boys |
| 1930s | 122 | 8,186 boys |
| 1940s | 258 | 3,880 boys |
| 1950s | 992 | 1,008 boys |
| 1960s | 2,910 | 344 boys |
| 1970s | 4,340 | 230 boys |
| 1980s | 4,364 | 229 boys |
| 1990s | 3,060 | 327 boys |
| 2000s | 3,105 | 322 boys |
| 2010s | 1,360 | 735 boys |
| 2020s | 669 | 1,495 boys |
Other spellings of Bryan
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 Bryan
What does the name Bryan mean?
Bryan means “possibly noble, strong” in Irish, as a form of Brian.
What is the origin of the name Bryan?
Bryan has Celtic, English, Gaelic, Irish, Scottish roots in our records. Other Celtic names include Owen, Logan, Rowan.
Is Bryan a boy or girl name?
Bryan is a boy name.
How popular is the name Bryan?
Bryan ranked #336 for US boys in 2025, given to 1,005 babies. Its best year was 1977 (#42).