Bret Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Bret originates from Old French, meaning 'from Brittany'. It evolved from its roots through various historical forms such as Bretton and Breton. The name is associated with traits of warmth and approachability. It has no biblical relevance.
The name Bret is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. 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, Bret has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Bret' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 7545th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4172nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 353rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 313th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 401st out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1010th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 3812th out of 23106 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 12006th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 7838th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 16883rd out of 35406 names. Discover how the name 'Bret' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Bret"
Pronunciation
/brɛt/
Origin
Old French and Middle English
Etymology
The name Bret is derived from the Old French name 'Bret' meaning 'Breton' or 'from Brittany', reflecting a geographical origin.
Meaning
from Brittany
Language Evolution
Bret, Bretton, Breton
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 20th century, initially as a diminutive of the name 'Brett' and later as an independent name.
Variants & Derivatives
Brett, Bretton
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Bret is viewed as a modern and straightforward name, often associated with a friendly and approachable personality.
Famous People
Bret Hart, Bret Michaels, Bret Baier
Explore More Bret Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Bret"
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 "Bret"
"Bret" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 7545th of 7545 | 5 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 4172nd of 6773 | 49 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 353rd of 7552 | 8,389 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 313th of 10718 | 10,017 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 401st of 16616 | 8,254 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1010th of 24088 | 2,746 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 3812th of 23106 | 338 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 12006th of 19264 | 28 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 7838th of 27321 | 144 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 16883rd of 35406 | 60 |
Regional Popularity of "Bret" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - |
73.11% 1131st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
12.39% 276th/2227 |
17.98% 437th/2430 |
18.72% 534th/2853 |
8.47% 235th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
7.76% 228th/2937 |
9.99% 348th/3483 |
13.70% 482nd/3518 |
6.06% 245th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
7.06% 260th/3685 |
9.68% 433rd/4475 |
9.76% 507th/5194 |
6.16% 389th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
16.17% 741st/4582 |
21.92% 1132nd/5164 |
17.12% 1252nd/7313 |
15.06% 1124th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - |
65.98% 4141st/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Bret" 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) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Bret"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Bret" 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.