Brian
A boys’ name of Irish origin, meaning high, noble.
How Brian has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #189 |
| 2016 | #204 |
| 2017 | #216 |
| 2018 | #235 |
| 2019 | #247 |
| 2020 | #271 |
| 2021 | #288 |
| 2022 | #290 |
| 2023 | #317 |
| 2024 | #301 |
| 2025 | #339 |
Brian by the numbers
In 2025, 68 babies in England and Wales were named Brian. In the US, 1,763 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given several times more often in the US than in England and Wales.
Its American peak was 36,324 babies in 1972, so it is a 1970s name that has since fallen a long way.
At its height, in 1975, about 1 in 53 American boys born that year was called Brian.
Names that come from Brian
Forms of Brian in other languages, names built from it, and names that mean a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Briannahigh or noble; feminine form of Brian2,509 in the US (2017)
- Brianahigh or noble; a form of Brian676 in the US (2017)
- Brayannoble; high; variant of Brian346 in the US (2017)
- Bryannanoble; strong; feminine form of Brian188 in the US (2017)
- Breonnoble or high; a form of Brian50 in the US (2017)
- Brieannastrong or noble; feminine form of Brian14 in the US (2017)
- Brianihigh; noble; a form of Brian8 in the US (2017)
- Brianthigh; noble; a form of Brian8 in the US (2017)
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Brian. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Bryanhigh, noble; a form of Brian1,827 in the US (2017)
- Briarthorny shrub, bramble640 in the US (2017)
- Brionnoble or high; a form of Brian16 in the US (2017)
- Briannstrong or noble; variant of Brian14 in the US (2017)
- Briennoble high; a form of Brien12 in the US (2017)
- Brinfair or noble; a form of Brien12 in the US (2017)
Sounds like Brian
Names that are said the same way as Brian, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
Other names that mean nobility
Like Brian, each of these has nobility in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Aaronmountain of strength; exalted7,185 in the US (2017)
- Aubreyelf ruler; noble strength6,029 in the US (2017)
- Nolanchampion, descendant of the noble one5,403 in the US (2017)
- Patrickof noble birth; patrician375 in England and Wales (2025)
- Aryanoble; honorable; aryan2,201 in the US (2017)
- Albienoble and bright; from Albert1,702 in England and Wales (2025)
Names about as common as Brian
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