Where does the name Bryan come from?

Bryan is a boy name of Irish origin.

Is Bryan a boy or a girl name?

Bryan is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 0% of children given the name Bryan are girls and 100% are boys.

How popular is the name Bryan in 2023?

Bryan ranks #305 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1985 with 8,788 babies.

How do you pronounce Bryan?

Bryan is pronounced BRY-an (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Bryan?

Bryan is also written as Brian, Brion, Briain.

A name from Irish · Boy

Bryan

Variant spelling of Brian — from Old Irish bri meaning 'hill' or, by extension, 'noble' or 'strong'. The y-spelling overtook the older form in 1970s and 80s America.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 140-year arc in numbers.

387,479 U.S. births recorded from 1883–2023.

Popularity · 1883–2023

1,082 births in 2023

1883 1953 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

BVariant spelling of Brian — from Old Irish bri meaning 'hill' or, by extension, 'noble' or 'strong'. The y-spelling overtook the older form in 1970s and 80s America.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Bryan".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Brian Most common Brion Briain

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Bryan.

B
William Jennings Bryan (orator and politician)
B
Bryan Cranston (actor)
B
Bryan Adams (musician)

Quick answers

People often ask about Bryan.

What does the name Bryan mean?: Bryan means variant spelling of Brian — from Old Irish bri meaning 'hill' or, by extension, 'noble' or 'strong'. The y-spelling overtook the older form in 1970s and 80s America.
Where does the name Bryan come from?: Bryan is a boy name of Irish origin.
Is Bryan a boy or a girl name?: Bryan is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 0% of children given the name Bryan are girls and 100% are boys.
How popular is the name Bryan in 2023?: Bryan ranks #305 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1985 with 8,788 babies.
How do you pronounce Bryan?: Bryan is pronounced BRY-an (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Bryan?: Bryan is also written as Brian, Brion, Briain.

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Anglicized form of Irish Caitlín, itself from French Cateline (a medieval form of Katherine), ultimately from Greek Aikaterinē — traditionally linked to katharos ('pure')

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Anglicized form of Irish Ó Ceallaigh, 'descendant of Ceallach' — meaning 'bright-headed' or 'warrior'

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From the Shannon, the longest river in Ireland — from Old Irish Sionann, possibly meaning 'old/wise river' or 'the goddess Sinann'

Shawn

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Anglicized spelling of Irish Seán, itself the Irish form of John (Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious')

Erin

#3495

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From the Irish Éirinn, the dative form of Éire — the poetic name for Ireland itself, from a primordial Gaelic goddess associated with the land

About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.