Brennan Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Brennan is an Irish name derived from the Gaelic 'O Braonain', meaning 'descendant of Braonán', which relates to sorrow. The name has evolved through historical forms such as O Braonain and Braonán. It gained prominence in the 20th century, especially among those with Irish heritage, and is associated with strength and tradition. There is no biblical relevance to the name.
The name Brennan is most popular in Louisiana, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Brennan has been stalled 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. 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, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Brennan' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 7545th out of 7545 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2429th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 885th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 417th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 282nd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 616th out of 23106 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 7044th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2793rd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2540th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4116th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Brennan' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Brennan"
Pronunciation
/ˈbrɛnən/
Origin
Irish
Etymology
The name Brennan is derived from the Gaelic surname 'O Braonain', which means 'descendant of Braonán'. The root 'braon' translates to 'sorrow' or 'sadness' in Irish.
Meaning
descendant of Braonán
Language Evolution
O Braonain, Braonán, Brennan
Historical Usage
The name Brennan gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly among Irish communities and those of Irish descent.
Variants & Derivatives
Bren, Brenna, Brennon
Modern Popularity & Image
Brennan is perceived as a strong and traditional name, often associated with Irish heritage. It remains popular in various countries, especially in the United States.
Famous People
Brennan Manning, Brennan Lee Mulligan, Brennan Brown
Explore More Brennan Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Brennan"
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 "Brennan"
"Brennan" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 7545th of 7545 | 5 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2429th of 7552 | 214 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 885th of 10718 | 1,342 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 417th of 16616 | 7,753 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 282nd of 24088 | 18,336 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 616th of 23106 | 5,382 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 7044th of 19264 | 97 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 2793rd of 27321 | 630 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 2540th of 35406 | 1,065 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 4116th of 30306 | 426 |
Regional Popularity of "Brennan" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - |
51.57% 1431st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
31.29% 919th/2937 |
32.64% 1137th/3483 |
30.53% 1074th/3518 |
19.51% 789th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
8.55% 315th/3685 |
10.73% 480th/4475 |
8.89% 462nd/5194 |
6.27% 396th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
4.91% 225th/4582 |
5.19% 268th/5164 |
3.90% 285th/7313 |
4.54% 339th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
13.68% 545th/3984 |
11.88% 533rd/4487 |
8.65% 590th/6822 |
12.44% 781st/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Brennan" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - |
100.00% 3518th/3518 |
- |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
79.76% 2939th/3685 |
- |
48.27% 2507th/5194 |
77.38% 4888th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
88.26% 4044th/4582 |
100.00% 5164th/5164 |
30.89% 2259th/7313 |
63.37% 4729th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
100.00% 3984th/3984 |
- |
56.89% 3881st/6822 |
- |
State-by-State Popularity of "Brennan"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Brennan" 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.