Baby Name Popularity Profile

Bryan

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Bryan.

✦ High, noble, strong 🌍 Irish, Celtic traditional virtue
National Rank (2025) #336
All-Time Peak Rank #42 Achieved 1977
Total U.S. Births 389,589 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 99.8% Boy / 0.2% Girl Overwhelmingly Male
First Recorded 1883 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 1980s 8,717 births in 1985
💡 The Bryan Vibe: Considered a Perennial Favorite. A historic staple that has maintained dominant national popularity for over half a century.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning High, noble, strong
Language Origin Irish, Celtic
Origin Type multiple
Derived from the Old Irish name Brían, which is thought to mean 'high', 'noble', or 'strong'.
Common Nicknames
Bry Ry
Alternative Spellings
Brian Brien
Pronunciation: BRY-an
Themes & Categories
traditional virtue
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Bryan

According to SSA data, Bryan achieved its highest historical rank of #42 in 1977. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1985 with 8,717 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 59.7%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 134 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Bryan across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Declining
10-Year Shift -59.7% Decline
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 8,717 births in 1985
Years in Top 100 52 yrs
Years in Top 500 99 yrs
Registry Streak 134 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 11
1890s: 405
1900s: 197
1910s: 462
1920s: 1,162
1930s: 1,295
1940s: 3,976
1950s: 20,628
1960s: 55,304
1970s: 71,338
1980s: 80,502
1990s: 59,751
2000s: 61,930
2010s: 25,694
2020s: 6,934

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Br-yan
Letter Count 5 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 7.7% of names
Linguistic Profile: 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.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Bryan.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Nevada
Top States Nevada, California, Florida, Utah, Delaware
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Nevada #244 2,343 2006 Insufficient historical volume
California #273 58,628 2003 35.2% Decline
Florida #168 18,701 2007 18.9% Decline
Utah #632 4,325 1979 Insufficient historical volume
Delaware #210 1,071 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #565 6,086 2005 64.7% Decline
Texas #315 37,090 2006 43.5% Decline
Maryland #331 7,295 1988 66.7% Decline
Alaska Unranked 643 1984 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho Unranked 1,710 1976 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon #442 3,917 1979 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma #563 5,854 1972 Insufficient historical volume
New Mexico #322 2,296 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #427 6,879 1983 Insufficient historical volume
Colorado #632 5,094 1985 Insufficient historical volume
Wyoming Unranked 565 1983 Insufficient historical volume
Hawaii Unranked 1,254 1983 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey #234 11,015 1989 19.6% Decline
District of Columbia Unranked 1,764 1967 Insufficient historical volume
Virginia #354 8,925 1987 30.3% Decline
Kansas Unranked 4,108 1972 Insufficient historical volume
Louisiana #493 7,029 1961 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska #384 2,839 1963 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #545 17,702 1976 24.0% Decline
Missouri #526 8,417 1974 Insufficient historical volume
Indiana #308 8,911 1963 Insufficient historical volume
Connecticut #253 4,035 1987 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #408 10,538 1986 27.0% Decline
Montana Unranked 1,083 1974 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #519 12,973 1985 Insufficient historical volume
New Hampshire Unranked 1,059 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Illinois #417 16,578 1985 10.3% Decline
Rhode Island Unranked 1,198 1986 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina #330 4,740 1985 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas #495 3,526 1977 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #322 8,939 2006 +2.7% Growth
Minnesota #520 5,849 1981 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota Unranked 1,065 1962 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky #428 5,415 1977 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa Unranked 4,117 1977 Insufficient historical volume
New York #326 23,797 1989 40.2% Decline
Massachusetts #104 7,538 1986 +34.0% Growth
Tennessee #326 6,498 1974 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota Unranked 1,008 1962 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #696 5,860 1983 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #319 15,331 1984 5.4% Decline
West Virginia Unranked 2,453 1973 Insufficient historical volume
Alabama #424 4,372 1974 Insufficient historical volume
Vermont Unranked 381 1986 Insufficient historical volume
Maine Unranked 944 1988 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi Unranked 2,517 1977 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Derek Marcus Travis Aaron Jesse Jaime Corey Lamar Jamar Jamel
👧 Sister Suggestions
Holly Rachel Nina Nicole Lauren Joanna Rebecca Mallory Vanessa Veronica

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