Brett Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Brett is an Old English name meaning 'a native of Brittany'. It has evolved from the word 'breot' and has historical forms such as Breton and Brettan. The name gained popularity in the 20th century and is often viewed positively in contemporary culture. There are several variants and derivatives, and it is notable for its connection to famous individuals.
The name Brett is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the MidWest 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, Brett has been too falling for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female 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, stalled for female in MidWest, falling for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Brett' 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 2498th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 224th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 109th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 83rd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 223rd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 829th out of 23106 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3335th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1697th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1490th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4214th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 7671st out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Brett' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Brett"
Pronunciation
/brɛt/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Brett is derived from the Old English word 'breot', which means 'a native of Brittany'. It was originally used as a surname for people from that region.
Meaning
a native of Brittany
Language Evolution
Breton, Brett, Brettan
Historical Usage
The name Brett gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 20th century, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Variants & Derivatives
Bret, Brettan, Brettie
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Brett is perceived as a modern, masculine name that is often associated with a laid-back and approachable personality.
Famous People
Brett Favre, Brett Kavanaugh, Brett Anderson
Explore More Brett Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Brett"
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 "Brett"
"Brett" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 7545th of 7545 | 5 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2498th of 6773 | 170 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 224th of 7552 | 19,718 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 109th of 10718 | 45,846 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 83rd of 16616 | 64,657 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 223rd of 24088 | 25,252 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 829th of 23106 | 3,331 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 3335th of 12526 | 242 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1697th of 19264 | 900 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1490th of 27321 | 1,555 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 4214th of 35406 | 521 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 7671st of 30306 | 175 |
Regional Popularity of "Brett" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
78.86% 1227th/1556 |
- |
73.11% 1131st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
8.49% 189th/2227 |
9.38% 228th/2430 |
11.78% 336th/2853 |
5.98% 166th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
2.69% 79th/2937 |
2.81% 98th/3483 |
4.60% 162nd/3518 |
2.10% 85th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
1.71% 63rd/3685 |
1.81% 81st/4475 |
1.94% 101st/5194 |
1.66% 105th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
3.62% 166th/4582 |
3.33% 172nd/5164 |
3.32% 243rd/7313 |
4.15% 310th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
18.50% 737th/3984 |
17.25% 774th/4487 |
12.20% 832nd/6822 |
16.73% 1050th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Brett" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
95.80% 2328th/2430 |
- |
78.05% 2166th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
65.92% 1936th/2937 |
39.94% 1391st/3483 |
83.97% 2954th/3518 |
40.58% 1641st/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
46.84% 1726th/3685 |
37.12% 1661st/4475 |
31.54% 1638th/5194 |
31.15% 1968th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
59.57% 4356th/7313 |
83.68% 6245th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Brett"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Brett" 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.