Bryan Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Bryan is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Bryan?
Bryan is spelled B-R-Y-A-N. The name has 5 letters.
Bryan at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Bryan may derive from an Old Celtic word meaning “high” or “noble.”
- Origin
- Bryan is commonly considered a variant spelling of Brian, a name with roots in Celtic languages.
- Pronunciation
- BRY-an · 2 syllables
Bryan Popularity in 2025
Rank#336
Recorded Births1,005
- Boys usage fell 29 places to #336 and recorded 100 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Bryan Mean?
Bryan may derive from an Old Celtic word meaning “high” or “noble.”
Origin: Bryan is commonly considered a variant spelling of Brian, a name with roots in Celtic languages.
How Do You Pronounce Bryan?
PronunciationBRY-an
Syllables2
Bryan Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2009 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 1,005 | #336 |
| 2024 | Boys | 1,105 | #307 |
| 2023 | Boys | 1,082 | #305 |
| 2022 | Boys | 1,172 | #291 |
| 2021 | Girls | 5 | #15,251 |
| 2021 | Boys | 1,211 | #285 |
| 2020 | Boys | 1,359 | #259 |
| 2019 | Boys | 1,425 | #255 |
| 2018 | Boys | 1,641 | #233 |
| 2017 | Boys | 1,840 | #211 |
| 2016 | Girls | 5 | #16,215 |
| 2016 | Boys | 2,130 | #186 |
| 2015 | Boys | 2,492 | #166 |
| 2014 | Girls | 9 | #10,955 |
| 2014 | Boys | 2,731 | #149 |
| 2013 | Boys | 2,893 | #133 |
| 2012 | Girls | 10 | #10,429 |
| 2012 | Boys | 3,083 | #121 |
| 2011 | Girls | 7 | #13,347 |
| 2011 | Boys | 3,521 | #110 |
| 2010 | Girls | 13 | #8,701 |
| 2010 | Boys | 3,938 | #97 |
| 2009 | Girls | 9 | #11,459 |
| 2009 | Boys | 4,856 | #92 |
When Was Bryan Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1985 · Boys
8,717 recorded births
National rank #48
1986 · Boys
8,651 recorded births
National rank #47
1987 · Boys
8,560 recorded births
National rank #51
1984 · Boys
8,270 recorded births
National rank #48
Where Bryan Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MA | #104 | 67 |
| FL | #168 | 129 |
| DE | #203 | 5 |
| NJ | #231 | 41 |
| NV | #243 | 12 |
| CT | #249 | 13 |
| CA | #273 | 136 |
| IN | #308 | 25 |