Brian is a boy name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Brian means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Brian across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Brian has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Brian is a boy name of Irish (Gaelic) origin meaning “noble, high”. borne by the high king Brian Boru.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 1,178,298 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 2,739 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 7,753 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 449 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 24,160 births |
| New Zealand top 100, since 1954 | 6,247 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Brian per year, United States (1909 to 2025). United States peaked in 1972 (36,477/yr) · Ireland peaked in 1980 (944/yr) · Scotland peaked in 1974 (623/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2007 (121/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 1997 (40/yr).
Brian has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 1972, when it ranked #9 nationally (given to 37,161 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 1970s.
Brianna · Bryan · Briana · Breanna · Brianne · Brynn · Brenna · Bryanna
Not sure if it's the one? The best way to know is to see if your partner loves it too. Swipe baby names with your partner and match on the ones you both ❤️, free, no account needed to start.
Find your name together →