Brenda
Complete Name Analysis & Etymology Guide
610,451 Total Births
145 Years of Data
1957 Peak Popularity Year
24,394 Peak Births

Brenda Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis

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Summary

Brenda is derived from the Old Norse name 'Brandr', meaning 'sword' or 'firebrand'. It evolved into its modern form in English and has been used since the 20th century. The name is often associated with warmth and friendliness, with no direct biblical relevance. Notable people with this name include singer Brenda Lee and actress Brenda Strong.

Etymology & Cultural Background of "Brenda"

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Pronunciation

/ˈbrɛndə/

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Origin

Old Norse

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Etymology

The name Brenda is believed to be derived from the Old Norse name 'Brandr', which means 'sword' or 'firebrand'. It gained popularity in the English-speaking world in the 20th century, likely influenced by its use in literature.

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Meaning

sword; firebrand

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Language Evolution

Brandr (Old Norse), Brenda (Modern English)

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Historical Usage

Brenda became popular in the English-speaking world in the 20th century, particularly after its use in literature and media, including the 1940s novel 'Brenda' by the author and playwright William Saroyan.

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Variants & Derivatives

Brend, Brendie, Bren

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Modern Popularity & Image

Brenda is often perceived as a classic and somewhat vintage name, associated with warmth and friendliness. Its popularity has fluctuated but remains recognized.

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Famous People

Brenda Lee, an American singer, Brenda Strong, an American actress, Brenda Vaccaro, an American actress

📊 Brenda Name Trend Analysis

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Boy Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Stable
25-Year Trend: Relatively Stable
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Girl Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Stable
25-Year Trend: Relatively Stable

Explore More Brenda Name Visualizations

✨ Brenda Name Meaning & Significance

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Popularity Trend

Highly Popular name with 24,394 peak births in 1957

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Geographic Spread

Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in West Virginia

Historical Span

Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends

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Generational Impact

Influenced 12 different American generations with varying popularity

🔊 Same Pronunciation Names for "Brenda" - Complete Guide (2 Names)

Discover the ultimate list of homophone names and same pronunciation names that sound identical to "Brenda". These names share the same pronunciation but may have different spellings, offering alternative options for parents seeking similar-sounding names. Whether you're looking for American or British pronunciation variations, this comprehensive guide includes 2 carefully curated names that maintain the same phonetic sound.

Why explore same pronunciation names? Many parents search for homophone names to find alternative spellings that might be more unique or culturally significant. This ultimate list covers both American and British pronunciation patterns, ensuring you find the perfect variation of "Brenda" that fits your preferences.

Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Brenda"

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 "Brenda"

"Brenda" Popularity Across American Generations

Generation Gender Rank Total Names
Silent Generation (1928-1945) Boy 2458th of 6773 175
Baby Boomers (1946-1964) Boy 1093rd of 7552 900
Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) Boy 1688th of 10718 443
Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) Boy 2017th of 16616 541
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) Boy 11654th of 24088 61
G.I. Generation (1901-1927) Girl 1385th of 9107 567
Silent Generation (1928-1945) Girl 100th of 9204 50,147
Baby Boomers (1946-1964) Girl 17th of 12526 381,738
Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) Girl 44th of 19264 110,003
Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) Girl 119th of 27321 40,156
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) Girl 230th of 35406 22,459
Generation Alpha (2013-2024) Girl 986th of 30306 3,254

Regional Popularity of "Brenda" by Generation for Male Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
- - - -
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
73.67%
1139th/1546
- 78.92%
1857th/2353
-
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
48.63%
1083rd/2227
58.02%
1410th/2430
44.72%
1276th/2853
50.92%
1413th/2775
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
- 60.24%
2098th/3483
52.27%
1839th/3518
44.21%
1788th/4044
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
- 54.59%
2443rd/4475
33.31%
1730th/5194
18.00%
1137th/6317
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
- - - -
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
- - - -

Regional Popularity of "Brenda" by Generation for Female Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
- 61.20%
844th/1379
71.26%
1686th/2366
-
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
8.67%
134th/1546
7.97%
124th/1556
1.95%
46th/2353
11.57%
179th/1547
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
0.90%
20th/2227
1.36%
33rd/2430
0.14%
4th/2853
1.05%
29th/2775
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
1.23%
36th/2937
1.69%
59th/3483
1.31%
46th/3518
1.04%
42nd/4044
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
5.32%
196th/3685
4.25%
190th/4475
2.58%
134th/5194
1.06%
67th/6317
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
8.51%
390th/4582
6.49%
335th/5164
3.50%
256th/7313
1.92%
143rd/7463
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
33.16%
1321st/3984
22.46%
1008th/4487
13.94%
951st/6822
12.95%
813th/6276

State-by-State Popularity of "Brenda"

This map shows the relative popularity of "Brenda" 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.

Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Brenda" in the United States

The name Brenda is most popular in West Virginia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers generation in the South 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, Brenda has been stalled for male in MidWest, too falling for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, falling for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, falling for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, falling for female in South, stalled for male in West, falling for female in West. Across generations, 'Brenda' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2458th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1093rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1688th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2017th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 11654th out of 24088 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1385th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 100th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 17th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 44th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 119th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 230th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 986th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Brenda' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.

Infographic: Brenda name meaning, origin, and popularity trends in the United States (US baby name analysis chart)
[600x500px image] Etymology and historical popularity of Brenda,