Brian
2025 SSA
Below 5 births
About Brian
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.
Brian is also given to girls.
Pronounced BRY-un.
As of October 2026, Brian ranked #339 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #8 in 1973, Nameberry popularity #250.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · boys | Births · boys | US rank · girls | Births · girls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #168 | 2,535 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #189 | 2,217 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #204 | 1,983 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #216 | 1,777 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #235 | 1,631 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #247 | 1,478 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #270 | 1,261 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #288 | 1,188 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | #289 | 1,180 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | #317 | 1,048 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #301 | 1,111 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #339 | 979 | — | 0 |
World rankings
Brian for boys
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Brian.
Brian on lists
Famous Brians
- Brian BoruBoy
King of Ireland
- Brian Douglas WilliamsBoy
American broadcast journalist
- Brian Eno (aka Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno)Boy
English musician
- (Martin) Brian MulroneyBoy
18th prime minister of Canada
- Brian Russell de PalmaBoy
American film director
- Brian Manion DennehyBoy
American actor
- Brian Anthony BoitanoBoy
American figure skater
- Brian McKnightBoy
American singer
- Brian Austin GreenBoy
American actor
- Brian Samuel EpsteinBoy
English manager of The Beatles
- Brian Edward GottfriedBoy
American tennis player
- Brian HoldenBoy
American actor, singer, writer
- Brian MinchinBoy
British TV producer
- Brian Douglas WilsonBoy
American musician of The Beach Boys
- (Louis) Brian PiccoloBoy
American NFL football player, subject of film "Brian's Song"
- Brian Howard CloughBoy
English footballer and manager
- Brian de la PuenteBoy
American football player
- Brian KerwinBoy
American actor
- Brian UrlacherBoy
American football player
- Brian Denis CoxBoy
Scottish actor
- Brian ReganBoy
American comedian
- Brian Justin CrumBoy
American musician
- Brian RosenthalBoy
American actor and singer
- Brian Thomas "BBoy
Rok" Littrell, American singer of the Backstreet Boys
- Brian Logan DalesBoy
lead singer of American band The Summer Set
- Brian Leo BianchiniBoy
American model/actor
- Brian MayBoy
guitarist for British band Queen
- Brian HallisayBoy
American actor
- Brian HoweBoy
American actor
- Brian Phillip "Head" WelchBoy
guitarist for American band Korn
- Brian 'Astro' BradleyBoy
American actor and Rapper
- Brian 'Q' QuinnBoy
American comedian from The Tenderloins and Impractical Jokers
- Brian Awadis aka FaZe RugBoy
American YouTuber
- Brian Sean O'Connor (b. 2007)Boy
son of American television personality Kevin O'Connor
- Brian JonesBoy
Multi,instrumentalist and rhythm guitarist for The Rolling Stones
- Brian Ross WeitzBoy
musician and founding member of the band Animal Collective
- Brian JohnsonBoy
lead singer of AC/DC
- Brian Kang/Kang YonghyunBoy
bassist, singer, songwriter, and rapper of the South Korean band Day6; more popularly known by his stage name Young K
- Brian FirkusBoy
American musician, TV personality, and drag queen
- Brian Timothy GeraghtyBoy
American actor
- Brian Theodore Deneke (b. 1978)Boy
19 year old American man who was killed in a hit and run attack for being a punk rock musician
Brian in pop culture
- Sir Brian de BoisBoy
Guilbert, character in "Ivanhoe" by Sir Walter Scott
- Brian GriffinBoy
dog character on "Family Guy"
- Brian CohenBoy
main character in 1979 film "Monty Python's Life of Brian"
- Mr. Brian FitzpatrickBoy
character in “Tom Jones” (1746)
- Brian KinneyBoy
character on "Queer as Folk"
- Brian FinnBoy
character in "Keeping the Faith"
- Brian O'ConnerBoy
character in "Fast and the Furious" series
- Brian JohnsonBoy
character in film "The Breakfast Club"
- Brian ShelbyBoy
character in film "Vanilla Sky"
- Brian HardingBoy
character in videogame "Dream Daddy"
- Brian DavisBoy
main character on TV series "What About Brian?"
- Brian DuffordBoy
character in webcomic "Camp Weedonwantcha"
- Brian MarshBoy
character in "Prince of Darkness"
- Albus Percival Wulfric Brian DumbledoreBoy
character in Harry Potter series
- Brian "Otis" ZvonecekBoy
character on TV's "Chicago Fire"
- Brian / GreenBoy
character in "Monster Prom"
- Brian ThomasBoy
full name of Hoodie from Marble Hornets