Brendan - A very unique male name
Brendan at a glance
Brendan is ranked #1051 among boy baby names in 2025, with 158 births in 2025. It peaked in 1999 at #96 and first appeared on the charts in 1917.
- Rank in 2025
- #1051
- Births in 2025
- 158
- Peak year
- 1999 (#96)
- First appeared
- 1917
- Trend
- #721 in 2020 → #1051 in 2025 (Falling)
- Popularity
- 1 in 9,280 boys
- Visitor rating
- 4.4/5 (10 recent votes)
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration · Data through 2025 · Updated 2026
With that position 1 in 9,280 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Brendan peaked in popularity 27 years ago in 1999 on position 96.
Famous with this name
Brendan Gleeson
Brendan Fraser
Brendan Fletcher
How would you rate Brendan, 1-5?
Brendan is currently topping the charts in...
Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Brendan is currently topping the baby name charts in Connecticut at position #449 - and is the least popular in Florida at position #1,878.Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Brendan is where you live.
Comment and discuss
Brendan origin and meaning
Irish — derivation disputed
Uncertain — from Old Irish Brénainn, usually connected to Welsh brenin, 'king,' hence the common rendering 'prince,' but the connection is not fully settled
Brendan is the anglicised form of the Irish name borne by Saint Brendan the Navigator, the 6th-century monk of voyage legends. It became a mainstream American name in the late 20th century, peaking in 1999, and has fallen steadily since.
Origin uncertain
Brendan is a 7 letter name with 2 syllables.
To see famous people named Brendan, pop culture references for the name Brendan and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.Similar to Brendan
We've found the following names that sound similar to Brendan, sorted by popularity.
Brandon / Brent / Bryant / Brantley / Branden / Brenden / Brendon / Brenton / Brant / Brandan /Name statistics
Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better
understanding of how popular or unique this name is.
With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually
differ a lot from state to state.
Chart position per year (visualized)
Chart position per state (visualized)
Chart position per year (table view)
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 1051 |
| 2024 | 998 |
| 2023 | 875 |
| 2022 | 878 |
| 2021 | 786 |
| 2020 | 721 |
| 2019 | 652 |
| 2018 | 561 |
| 2017 | 521 |
| 2016 | 451 |
| 2015 | 387 |
| 2014 | 352 |
| 2013 | 326 |
| 2012 | 302 |
| 2011 | 263 |
| 2010 | 230 |
| 2009 | 212 |
| 2008 | 207 |
| 2007 | 205 |
| 2006 | 185 |
| 2005 | 176 |
| 2004 | 149 |
| 2003 | 141 |
| 2002 | 124 |
| 2001 | 115 |
| 2000 | 101 |
| 1999 | 96 |
| 1998 | 99 |
| 1997 | 107 |
| 1996 | 131 |
| 1995 | 132 |
| 1994 | 130 |
| 1993 | 145 |
| 1992 | 145 |
| 1991 | 147 |
| 1990 | 155 |
| 1989 | 145 |
| 1988 | 157 |
| 1987 | 154 |
| 1986 | 185 |
| 1985 | 186 |
| 1984 | 188 |
| 1983 | 190 |
| 1982 | 205 |
| 1981 | 216 |
| 1980 | 220 |
| 1979 | 230 |
| 1978 | 236 |
| 1977 | 262 |
| 1976 | 246 |
| 1975 | 298 |
| 1974 | 305 |
| 1973 | 324 |
| 1972 | 346 |
| 1971 | 341 |
| 1970 | 340 |
| 1969 | 368 |
| 1968 | 348 |
| 1967 | 350 |
| 1966 | 343 |
| 1965 | 438 |
| 1964 | 469 |
| 1963 | 510 |
| 1962 | 513 |
| 1961 | 509 |
| 1960 | 516 |
| 1959 | 562 |
| 1958 | 659 |
| 1957 | 609 |
| 1956 | 662 |
| 1955 | 674 |
| 1954 | 765 |
| 1953 | 759 |
| 1952 | 836 |
| 1951 | 891 |
| 1950 | 791 |
| 1949 | 845 |
| 1948 | 867 |
| 1947 | 865 |
| 1946 | 831 |
| 1945 | 794 |
| 1944 | 837 |
| 1943 | 772 |
| 1942 | 966 |
| 1941 | 779 |
| 1940 | 809 |
| 1939 | 884 |
| 1938 | 962 |
| 1937 | 829 |
| 1936 | 789 |
| 1935 | 828 |
| 1934 | 814 |
| 1933 | 1036 |
| 1932 | 1039 |
| 1931 | 1452 |
| 1930 | 1423 |
| 1929 | 1330 |
| 1928 | 1320 |
| 1927 | 1573 |
| 1926 | 1228 |
| 1925 | 1485 |
| 1924 | 1633 |
| 1923 | 1493 |
| 1921 | 1760 |
| 1920 | 1740 |
| 1919 | 1430 |
| 1917 | 1451 |
Chart position per state (table view)
| State | Rank |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | 449 |
| Massachusetts | 559 |
| Illinois | 575 |
| Virginia | 591 |
| New York | 642 |
| South Carolina | 677 |
| Maryland | 721 |
| Kentucky | 723 |
| New Jersey | 840 |
| North Carolina | 878 |
| Pennsylvania | 925 |
| Tennessee | 1056 |
| Georgia | 1117 |
| Texas | 1173 |
| Ohio | 1298 |
| California | 1452 |
| Florida | 1878 |
Even more about Brendan
These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.
Is Brendan a common or unique name?
By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.What is the number of syllables for the name Brendan?
2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.Pronunciation
BREN-dun · /ˈbrɛndən/
Around the world
No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.
Spellings and nicknames
- Brendon — A spelling variant; a separate entry.
- Brenden — Another spelling variant.
Nicknames: Bren
Famous bearers
- Brendan Fraser — American actor, Oscar winner for The Whale and star of The Mummy films (b. 1968) Contemporary
- Saint Brendan the Navigator — Irish monastic saint famed for his legendary Atlantic voyage (c. 484–577) Historical
Style
ClassicInternational
Why parents choose it
Brendan has an easygoing Irish warmth and a beloved saint behind it, and it suited the 1990s perfectly. Today it is a quieter choice that still feels friendly and substantial.
Worth knowing
- Endlessly confused with Brandon, a different name.
- Its 1999 peak gives it a dad-name feel for younger parents.
