Bryan
Say it: BRY-an/ˈbɹaɪən/
Boy5 letters2 syllables
#372
in Ireland (2025)
#360 with spellings combined
10
babies in 2025
#78
best rank (1985)
2,286
babies since 1964
Down 5
10-year rank change
Bryan through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | #360 |
| 2024 | 7 | #454 |
| 2023 | 6 | #497 |
| 2022 | 10 | #367 |
| 2021 | 10 | #353 |
| 2020 | 14 | #299 |
| 2019 | 5 | #537 |
| 2018 | 8 | #411 |
| 2017 | 12 | #336 |
| 2016 | 4 | #601 |
| 2015 | 11 | #355 |
| 2014 | 15 | #302 |
| 2013 | 11 | #352 |
| 2012 | 18 | #267 |
| 2011 | 9 | #407 |
| 2010 | 22 | #241 |
| 2009 | 22 | #240 |
| 2008 | 14 | #306 |
| 2007 | 28 | #180 |
| 2006 | 21 | #200 |
| 2005 | 28 | #162 |
| 2004 | 39 | #129 |
| 2003 | 29 | #145 |
| 2002 | 42 | #110 |
| 2001 | 27 | #139 |
| 2000 | 39 | #116 |
| 1999 | 19 | #161 |
| 1998 | 29 | #125 |
| 1997 | 47 | #106 |
| 1996 | 35 | #130 |
| 1995 | 57 | #95 |
| 1994 | 44 | #110 |
| 1993 | 63 | #92 |
| 1992 | 70 | #87 |
| 1991 | 64 | #91 |
| 1990 | 66 | #91 |
| 1989 | 56 | #93 |
| 1988 | 74 | #83 |
| 1987 | 84 | #79 |
| 1986 | 73 | #85 |
| 1985 | 92 | #78 |
| 1984 | 79 | #82 |
| 1983 | 78 | #81 |
| 1982 | 60 | #100 |
| 1981 | 70 | #90 |
| 1980 | 71 | #93 |
| 1979 | 72 | #93 |
| 1978 | 65 | #99 |
| 1977 | 68 | #98 |
| 1976 | 52 | #105 |
| 1975 | 54 | #104 |
| 1974 | 51 | #105 |
| 1973 | 43 | #116 |
| 1972 | 36 | #120 |
| 1971 | 31 | #123 |
| 1970 | 29 | #120 |
| 1969 | 14 | #159 |
| 1968 | 20 | #127 |
| 1967 | 17 | #132 |
| 1966 | 22 | #120 |
| 1965 | 12 | #148 |
| 1964 | 8 | #175 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Bryan mean?
Uncertain, possibly "high" or "noble"
A variant spelling of Brian, a name of Irish and Breton history.
Say it right
BRYan
The story of Bryan
Bryan is another way of spelling Brian. The two are said the same way, and Bryan is also found as a surname taken from Brian. Nobody is quite sure what Brian means. One theory ties it to an old Celtic word for “high” or “noble”, but that is only a guess. In Ireland the name is linked above all with Brian Boru, the high king.
The CSO counts Bryan and Brian as separate names, so the numbers here are for this spelling only. Bryan was already in use when the records begin in 1964, and it grew through the 1970s. Its best year was 1985, when 92 boys were named Bryan and it reached number 78. It has been much quieter since the 2000s, with 10 boys in 2025. In Northern Ireland its best rank was 179, in 1997.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Bryan (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Bryan (given name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
Bri
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Bryan | 10 | 2,286 |
In Northern Ireland
#344 in 2025 with 4 babies. Best rank #179 (1997); 89 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.