Brenna

Brenna - A very unique female name

Brenna appeared on the charts for the first time in 1952 on position #1952. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Brenna and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Brenna? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Brenna. The baby girl name Brenna was given to 44 baby girls in 2025, ranking #2091 on the national girl baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 29,624 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Brenna peaked in popularity 31 years ago in 1995 on position 231.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Brenna, 1-5?

Brenna is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Brenna is currently topping the baby name charts in Minnesota at position #752 - and is the least popular in Florida at position #1,935.

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 Brenna is where you live.

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Brenna origin and meaning

Irish / Gaelic — derivation disputed

Uncertain — Brenna is usually explained as a feminine form of the Irish surname Brennan (Ó Braonáin, from braon, 'sorrow, moisture') or linked to the Welsh/Irish bran, 'raven'; neither derivation is settled for the given name

Brenna appeared in American data in 1952 and had a real fashion moment in the 1990s, peaking in 1995 at nearly 1,200 births. It has fallen steadily since, to 44 births in 2025. Its sound — Brenda softened with an -a — now reads as distinctly 1990s.

Origin uncertain

Brenna is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Brenna, pop culture references for the name Brenna and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Brenna

We've found the following names that sound similar to Brenna, sorted by popularity.

Brianna / Briana / Breanna / Brynn / Brianne / Bryanna / Breana / Breanne / Bryn / Bryana /

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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)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Brenna

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 Brenna 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 female name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Brenna?

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.

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Pronunciation

BREN-uh · /ˈbrɛnə/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Brennan — The surname/unisex form; a separate name.
• Brynn — A shorter Welsh-flavoured name often confused with it; a separate name.

Nicknames: Bren

Famous bearers

None yet — no bearer for this name is documented well enough for us to list, so we show none rather than pad the list.

Style

InternationalVintage revival

Why parents choose it

Brenna has a soft Celtic sound that many still love, and it is now uncommon enough to feel fresh in a classroom. It suits parents who liked 1990s names but want one past its peak.

Worth knowing

• The 'raven' and 'sorrow' meanings offered online are disputed; the name reads dated-1990s to many, and it is still falling.