Brainerd

English

"courageous raven"

Brainerd Origin and Meaning

The name Brainerd is a boy's name.

Brainerd is a masculine name of Old English origin, derived from a surname meaning "of the burnt clearing" or "from the forest clearing created by burning." This uncommon name has historical significance in America through Brainerd, Minnesota, named after the 19th-century missionary David Brainerd who worked among Native American tribes. The name carries connotations of pioneering spirit and intellectual capacity, perhaps influenced by its phonetic similarity to "brain." While never achieving widespread popularity, Brainerd saw modest usage in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, reflecting the period's preference for distinctive surnames as first names. Today, Brainerd remains extremely rare, appealing primarily to families with historical connections to the name or those seeking a uniquely traditional option with an established yet uncommon presence in American naming history.

The name Brainerd in Pop Culture

• Brainerd a resort town in northern Minnesota, USA