Bria

Sweet and sparky but maybe a little bit stuck in the 90s for some, Bria is a nickname-y style choice with various origins.

Unheard of until the 1970s, Bria only started to see substantial use in the 90s, when it rose up alongside its longer forms, Briana, Gabriella, and Sabrina. It fitted right in besides Brittany, Brooke, and Paige, and got a boost after comedian and actor Eddie Murphy used it for his daughter in 1989.

Peaking in 1993, Bria has been on the decline ever since. Given to 250 girls in a recent year, Bria has been replaced by the likes of Mia, Billie, Briar and Bridie.

Connected to poetry via its ties to the literary Briana, to the Bible through its link to Gabriel and Gabriella, to mythology through Brigid and Sabrina, Bria could holds an unexpected amount of meaning. It could also originate from the Italian word brio meaning "lively" or "confident" or from the Celtic Brigantī, meaning "high, exalted".

Namesakes such as basketball player, Bria Hartley, singer Bria Kelly, actress Bria Vinaite, and influencer Bria Myles help keep the name in the public eye - but what does the future hold for this short but punchy name? Only time will tell, especially with longer forms Briana and Brianna falling also down the charts in recent years.

Pronounced BREE-uh.

As of October 2026, Bria ranked #1163 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #175 in 1993, Nameberry popularity #988.