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Brian

The name Brian peaked for girls at #795 in 1972. Brian is also used for boys, ranking #339 in 2025.

The name Brian is a boy's name of Irish origin meaning "strong, virtuous, and honorable".

Names that Peaked in 1970

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Names That Mean Honorable

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Names that Peaked in 1972

Names that Peaked in 1973

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Cat Names That Start With B

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Irish Names that Start With B

The origins of the name Brian are not entirely clear, but it is suspected that it evolved from an Old Celtic word related to nobility. In Ireland the name is associated with Brian Boru, the most famous of all Irish warrior-kings, credited with driving the Vikings out of Ireland around the year 1000. 
 
Like other native Irish names, Brian was outlawed in Ireland during the centuries of British rule, restored to use after the war for Irish independence in 1916. Irish immigrants propelled it onto the US Top 1000 list for the first time in 1925.
 
Because it was outlawed for so long, Brian may feel like a less classic and ancient name than it really is. Its massive popularity in the 1970s, when it ranked in the Top 10, makes it one of today's quintessential Dad Names.
 While Brian has been trending downward in the US for decades, it still ranks solidly in the Top 1000, where it will likely remain for decades to come. Bryan, Bryant, and Brianna are common variations.
 
Brian has some pretty diverse associations—to newscaster Williams, the movie Monty Python's Life of Brian and as Marilyn Manson's real name.

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The name Brian is currently ranked #339 in U.S. births. and peaked for boys at #8 in 1973. The name is most popular in BRIAN, BRIAN, and BRIAN. Brian is occasionally used for girls in 2015.

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Year	US rank	Births	Per million
2014	—	0	0
2015	—	0	0
2016	—	0	0
2017	—	0	0
2018	—	0	0
2019	—	0	0
2020	—	0	0
2021	—	0	0
2022	—	0	0
2023	—	0	0
2024	—	0	0
2025	—	0	0