Data-driven popularity statistics, SSA rankings, and historical trends for the name Brian.
National Rank (2025)
#339
All-Time Peak Rank
#8 (1970)
Total U.S. Births
1,173,735
Unisex Distribution99.6% Boy / 0.4% GirlBalance: Overwhelmingly Male
💡 The Brian Vibe: This choice is considered a Perennial Favorite. A historic staple that has maintained dominant national popularity for over half a century.
📖 The Story Behind Brian
According to SSA data, Brian achieved its highest historical rank of #8 in 1970. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1972 with 36,306 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 55.9%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 115 consecutive years.
📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)
Watch how the absolute registration footprint of the name Brian scaled historically over the last century:
5-Year Trajectory Velocity
Declining
10-Year Decadal Shift Change
-55.9% Decline
18801920196020002025
📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility
Busiest Year on Record36,306Births in 1972
Years in Top 100
63yrs
Registry Appearance Streak
115Years
Historical VolatilityHighly Volatile
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s:0
1890s:0
1900s:5
1910s:116
1920s:566
1930s:3,173
1940s:22,793
1950s:112,336
1960s:258,129
1970s:322,660
1980s:233,993
1990s:119,309
2000s:69,775
2010s:24,107
2020s:6,773
📐 Sound & Spelling Structure
Phonetic SyllablesBr-ian
Letter Count5 Letters
Spelling ComplexityModerate
Linguistic Profile Narrative: It is an isogram, meaning no two letters are repeated. Longer than 7.7% of SSA names. Starts with B, a letter used by only 3.6% of SSA names.
🛠️ Rhythm & Cadence Engine
Need a middle name or matching choice that pairs cleanly with Brian? Enter a surname or older sibling name below to test structural meter and syllable cohesion:
BabyNameAnalytics