Brendan
Brendan: name meaning, origin and popularity
Meaning and origin of Brendan
Root meaning: “prince, king”
- A male given name from Irish.
Etymology
Anglicized form of the name of Irish saints, Irish Bréanainn (via Latin Brendanus), from Old Irish Brénainn, from Old Welsh breenhin (“prince, king”), ultimately from Proto-Celtic *brigantīnos (“(someone) preeminent, outstanding”), a diminutive of *brigantī (“high, exalted”). Doublet of Brian.
How popular is Brendan?
Since 1880, 325 girls and 91,816 boys in the U.S. have been named Brendan (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #4679 in 1987. Its highest rank for boys was #96 in 1999. In 2025, 195 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Brendan
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Irish boy names
Sibling name ideas for Brendan
Sister and brother names that share Brendan's Irish roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Brendan FAQ
What does the name Brendan mean?
Brendan traces back to a root meaning "prince, king". A male given name from Irish. Anglicized form of the name of Irish saints, Irish Bréanainn (via Latin Brendanus), from Old Irish Brénainn, from Old Welsh breenhin (“prince, king”), ultimately from Proto-Celtic *brigantīnos (“(someone) preeminent, outstanding”), a diminutive of *brigantī (“high, exalted”). Doublet of Brian.
What is the origin of the name Brendan?
Brendan is listed as a name of Irish origin.
How popular is the name Brendan?
Since 1880, 325 girls and 91,816 boys in the U.S. have been named Brendan (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #4679 in 1987. Its highest rank for boys was #96 in 1999. In 2025, 195 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Brendan a boy or girl name?
Brendan is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 325 girls and 91,816 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.