Brennan
Brennan: name meaning, origin and popularity
Meaning and origin of Brennan
Root meaning: “descendant of Braonán”
- A male given name transferred from the surname, of mostly American usage.
- A male given name, variant of Brendan.
Etymology
From Irish Ó Braonáin (“descendant of Braonán”), a diminutive of braon (“moisture, drop”). Alternatively, from Irish Ó Branáin (“descendant of Branán”), a diminutive of bran (“raven”).
How popular is Brennan?
Since 1880, 2,229 girls and 33,258 boys in the U.S. have been named Brennan (6% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1867 in 1994. Its highest rank for boys was #242 in 2009. In 2025, 236 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Brennan
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Irish boy names
Sibling name ideas for Brennan
Sister and brother names that share Brennan's Irish roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Brennan FAQ
What does the name Brennan mean?
Brennan traces back to a root meaning "descendant of Braonán". A male given name transferred from the surname, of mostly American usage. A male given name, variant of Brendan. From Irish Ó Braonáin (“descendant of Braonán”), a diminutive of braon (“moisture, drop”). Alternatively, from Irish Ó Branáin (“descendant of Branán”), a diminutive of bran (“raven”).
What is the origin of the name Brennan?
Brennan is listed as a name of Irish origin.
How popular is the name Brennan?
Since 1880, 2,229 girls and 33,258 boys in the U.S. have been named Brennan (6% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1867 in 1994. Its highest rank for boys was #242 in 2009. In 2025, 236 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Brennan a boy or girl name?
Brennan is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 2,229 girls and 33,258 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.