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The short answer
Brian is a masculine name used in English and Irish. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Meaning uncertain, possibly related to the old Celtic root *brixs ‘hill, high’ (Old Irish brí) or the related *brigā ‘might, power’ (Old Irish bríg). It was borne by the Irish king Brian Boru, who thwarted Viking attempts to conquer Ireland in the 11th century." It ranked #339 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, meaning uncertain, possibly related to the old Celtic root *brixs ‘hill, high’ (Old Irish brí) or the related *brigā ‘might, power’ (Old Irish bríg). It was borne by the Irish king Brian Boru, who thwarted Viking attempts to conquer Ireland in the 11th century. The entry lists its usage as English, Irish, Old Irish.
Editorial confidence: uncertain
Popularity
Brian ranked #339 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #339 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Brian in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Brian mean?
Brian means "hill, high", according to Behind the Name.
Is Brian a popular name?
Brian ranked #339 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Brian a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Brian appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Brian — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
