Brendan Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Brendan has its origins in Old Irish, meaning 'prince' or 'descendant of Braon'. It evolved from the Old Irish form 'Bréanainn' and has seen various historical forms. The name is linked to Saint Brendan, a notable figure in Irish history, and has traits associated with strength and adventure. There is no direct biblical relevance.
The name Brendan is most popular in Massachusetts, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been gradually declining. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Brendan has been too falling for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, falling for male in South, falling for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been falling for male in MidWest, falling for male in Northeast, falling for male in South, falling for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Brendan' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2220th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1225th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 670th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 307th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 154th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 157th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 543rd out of 23106 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 9267th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 6841st out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 13584th out of 35406 names. Discover how the name 'Brendan' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Brendan"
Pronunciation
/ˈbrɛn.dən/
Origin
Old Irish
Etymology
The name Brendan is derived from the Old Irish name 'Bréanainn', which is believed to be derived from the word 'braon', meaning 'prince' or 'descendant of Braon'.
Meaning
prince, descendant of Braon
Language Evolution
Bréanainn, Brendan, Brendin
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the early Middle Ages, particularly due to Saint Brendan, a 6th-century Irish monk known for his legendary sea voyages.
Variants & Derivatives
Brend, Brendon, Brendyn
Modern Popularity & Image
Brendan is viewed as a traditional yet modern name, often associated with strength and adventure due to its historical and legendary connections.
Famous People
Saint Brendan, Brendan Gleeson, Brendan Fraser
Explore More Brendan Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Brendan"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Brendan"
"Brendan" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2220th of 7545 | 215 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1225th of 6773 | 578 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 670th of 7552 | 2,405 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 307th of 10718 | 10,239 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 154th of 16616 | 30,517 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 157th of 24088 | 41,320 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 543rd of 23106 | 6,338 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 9267th of 19264 | 55 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 6841st of 27321 | 176 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 13584th of 35406 | 94 |
Regional Popularity of "Brendan" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
54.89% 757th/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
27.51% 428th/1556 |
- | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
30.80% 686th/2227 |
13.17% 320th/2430 |
58.96% 1682nd/2853 |
24.40% 677th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
10.93% 321st/2937 |
4.31% 150th/3483 |
15.63% 550th/3518 |
8.83% 357th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
4.21% 155th/3685 |
1.72% 77th/4475 |
5.33% 277th/5194 |
3.48% 220th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
2.68% 123rd/4582 |
1.70% 88th/5164 |
2.87% 210th/7313 |
2.96% 221st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
13.78% 549th/3984 |
7.15% 321st/4487 |
8.99% 613th/6822 |
11.03% 692nd/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Brendan" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
100.00% 6317th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Brendan"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Brendan" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.