Brenda
#1,525 for girls in 2025, 139 births · Last seen for boys in 2007 at #12,367
Given to girls 99.7% of the time
- Peak · girls
- 1961 · 23,781 births
- Debut · girls
- 7 births
- In top 100 · girls
- 39 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 608,478since 1897
Brenda over time
Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #1,525 | 139 | — | |
| 2024 | #1,140 | 212 | — | |
| 2023 | #1,292 | 177 | — | |
| 2022 | #1,269 | 189 | — | |
| 2021 | #1,207 | 198 | — | |
| 2020 | #1,261 | 180 | — | |
| 2019 | #1,069 | 236 | — | |
| 2018 | #1,007 | 258 | — | |
| 2017 | #910 | 294 | — | |
| 2016 | #840 | 340 | — | |
| 2015 | #805 | 349 | — | |
| 2014 | #729 | 384 | — | |
| 2013 | #643 | 439 | — | |
| 2012 | #538 | 561 | — | |
| 2011 | #532 | 546 | — | |
| 2010 | #426 | 735 | — | |
| 2009 | #406 | 780 | — | |
| 2008 | #343 | 968 | — | |
| 2007 | #280 | 1,232 | #12,367 | 5 |
| 2006 | #240 | 1,419 | — | |
| 2005 | #209 | 1,661 | #9,115 | 7 |
| 2004 | #201 | 1,660 | #6,520 | 11 |
| 2003 | #228 | 1,443 | #8,643 | 7 |
| 2002 | #213 | 1,550 | #9,392 | 6 |
| 2001 | #189 | 1,737 | #10,556 | 5 |
| 2000 | #172 | 1,898 | — | |
| 1999 | #160 | 1,979 | — | |
| 1998 | #149 | 2,133 | #6,314 | 9 |
| 1997 | #148 | 2,159 | #5,288 | 11 |
| 1996 | #131 | 2,414 | #5,187 | 11 |
| 1995 | #119 | 2,610 | #2,556 | 29 |
| 1994 | #121 | 2,655 | #2,618 | 28 |
| 1993 | #114 | 2,885 | #2,209 | 35 |
| 1992 | #119 | 2,827 | #2,532 | 28 |
| 1991 | #120 | 2,634 | #1,798 | 44 |
| 1990 | #123 | 2,633 | #2,214 | 32 |
| 1989 | #132 | 2,272 | #1,733 | 44 |
| 1988 | #123 | 2,285 | #1,671 | 42 |
| 1987 | #129 | 2,150 | #1,534 | 46 |
| 1986 | #124 | 2,241 | #1,403 | 50 |
| 1985 | #122 | 2,385 | #1,698 | 36 |
| 1984 | #112 | 2,497 | #1,796 | 31 |
| 1983 | #120 | 2,431 | #1,822 | 30 |
| 1982 | #118 | 2,517 | #2,111 | 25 |
| 1981 | #112 | 2,721 | #1,865 | 30 |
| 1980 | #115 | 2,648 | #2,162 | 24 |
| 1979 | #112 | 2,769 | #2,236 | 22 |
| 1978 | #103 | 2,873 | #2,929 | 14 |
| 1977 | #91 | 3,151 | #2,556 | 17 |
| 1976 | #77 | 3,587 | #2,508 | 17 |
| 1975 | #67 | 4,236 | #1,884 | 25 |
| 1974 | #59 | 4,830 | #2,358 | 17 |
| 1973 | #53 | 5,379 | #1,982 | 21 |
| 1972 | #44 | 6,270 | #1,721 | 26 |
| 1971 | #43 | 7,160 | #1,705 | 27 |
| 1970 | #40 | 8,336 | #1,989 | 20 |
| 1969 | #38 | 8,989 | #1,351 | 35 |
| 1968 | #34 | 9,945 | #1,183 | 41 |
| 1967 | #31 | 11,479 | #1,215 | 38 |
| 1966 | #25 | 13,294 | #1,149 | 42 |
| 1965 | #23 | 15,060 | #986 | 56 |
| 1964 | #18 | 17,106 | #1,126 | 46 |
| 1963 | #15 | 19,611 | #1,037 | 53 |
| 1962 | #12 | 21,274 | #939 | 65 |
| 1961 | #11 | 23,781 | #901 | 72 |
| 1960 | #13 | 23,963 | #951 | 63 |
| 1959 | #16 | 21,424 | #1,061 | 53 |
| 1958 | #16 | 21,337 | #1,148 | 45 |
| 1957 | #13 | 24,339 | #1,015 | 56 |
| 1956 | #19 | 19,341 | #1,257 | 37 |
| 1955 | #18 | 19,114 | #1,181 | 40 |
| 1954 | #18 | 19,609 | #1,200 | 39 |
| 1953 | #18 | 20,122 | #1,033 | 49 |
| 1952 | #15 | 21,439 | #1,094 | 44 |
| 1951 | #14 | 21,717 | #1,083 | 44 |
| 1950 | #14 | 20,799 | #1,105 | 41 |
| 1949 | #13 | 20,543 | #1,072 | 43 |
| 1948 | #17 | 17,700 | #1,145 | 39 |
| 1947 | #21 | 15,830 | #1,190 | 37 |
| 1946 | #24 | 12,690 | #1,196 | 34 |
| 1945 | #29 | 9,203 | #1,270 | 27 |
| 1944 | #30 | 8,999 | #1,255 | 28 |
| 1943 | #35 | 8,435 | #1,486 | 22 |
| 1942 | #40 | 7,241 | #1,316 | 28 |
| 1941 | #41 | 6,332 | #1,169 | 32 |
| 1940 | #42 | 5,442 | #1,573 | 19 |
| 1939 | #86 | 2,756 | #1,532 | 19 |
| 1938 | #244 | 676 | — | |
| 1937 | #423 | 233 | — | |
| 1936 | #511 | 163 | — | |
| 1935 | #556 | 132 | — | |
| 1934 | #652 | 106 | — | |
| 1933 | #683 | 90 | — | |
| 1932 | #694 | 95 | — | |
| 1931 | #844 | 66 | — | |
| 1930 | #916 | 63 | — | |
| 1929 | #922 | 60 | — | |
| 1928 | #1,015 | 54 | — | |
| 1927 | #1,108 | 47 | — | |
| 1926 | #1,004 | 55 | — | |
| 1925 | #976 | 58 | — | |
| 1924 | #1,188 | 44 | — | |
| 1923 | #1,174 | 43 | — | |
| 1922 | #1,160 | 44 | — | |
| 1921 | #1,437 | 32 | — | |
| 1920 | #1,407 | 32 | — | |
| 1919 | #1,423 | 30 | — | |
| 1918 | #1,497 | 28 | — | |
| 1917 | #1,923 | 18 | — | |
| 1916 | #1,581 | 23 | — | |
| 1915 | #1,672 | 20 | — | |
| 1914 | #1,740 | 15 | — | |
| 1913 | #1,766 | 12 | — | |
| 1912 | #1,297 | 17 | — | |
| 1911 | #1,656 | 9 | — | |
| 1910 | #1,773 | 8 | — | |
| 1909 | — | — | ||
| 1908 | #1,676 | 7 | — | |
| 1907 | — | — | ||
| 1906 | — | — | ||
| 1905 | #1,420 | 8 | — | |
| 1904 | #1,659 | 6 | — | |
| 1903 | #1,792 | 5 | — | |
| 1902 | — | — | ||
| 1901 | #1,466 | 6 | — | |
| 1900 | — | — | ||
| 1899 | — | — | ||
| 1898 | — | — | ||
| 1897 | #1,263 | 7 | — | |
| 1896 | — | — | ||
| 1895 | — | — | ||
| 1894 | — | — | ||
| 1893 | — | — | ||
| 1892 | — | — | ||
| 1891 | — | — | ||
| 1890 | — | — | ||
| 1889 | — | — | ||
| 1888 | — | — | ||
| 1887 | — | — | ||
| 1886 | — | — | ||
| 1885 | — | — | ||
| 1884 | — | — | ||
| 1883 | — | — | ||
| 1882 | — | — | ||
| 1881 | — | — | ||
| 1880 | — | — | ||
The first year at least five girls were named Brenda! It came in at #1,263, and was given to 7 baby girls.
Quietest stretch: 1898–1900, when fewer than 5 girls a year got the name.
Where Brenda is popular in 1981
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Texas#51 · 1 in 264
- Wisconsin#63 · 1 in 328
- California#67 · 1 in 362
- Alaska#75 · 1 in 294
- Nevada#83 · 1 in 336
Best ever in a state: #1 in Wyoming, 1961.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | #51 | 469 | 1 in 264 |
| Wisconsin | #63 | 95 | 1 in 328 |
| California | #67 | 501 | 1 in 362 |
| Alaska | #75 | 10 | 1 in 294 |
| Nevada | #83 | 13 | 1 in 336 |
| Arizona | #87 | 47 | 1 in 425 |
| Iowa | #88 | 45 | 1 in 431 |
| New Mexico | #88 | 23 | 1 in 405 |
| South Dakota | #88 | 13 | 1 in 346 |
| West Virginia | #90 | 28 | 1 in 412 |
| Delaware | #92 | 8 | 1 in 375 |
| Minnesota | #94 | 58 | 1 in 502 |
| Colorado | #104 | 43 | 1 in 483 |
| Idaho | #106 | 15 | 1 in 458 |
| Nebraska | #112 | 22 | 1 in 495 |
| Kansas | #115 | 29 | 1 in 534 |
| Montana | #115 | 10 | 1 in 475 |
| Florida | #118 | 92 | 1 in 588 |
| New Jersey | #118 | 62 | 1 in 601 |
| Mississippi | #122 | 29 | 1 in 546 |
| Connecticut | #123 | 27 | 1 in 571 |
| Massachusetts | #125 | 51 | 1 in 620 |
| Pennsylvania | #126 | 108 | 1 in 642 |
| Tennessee | #130 | 43 | 1 in 649 |
| Hawaii | #131 | 10 | 1 in 486 |
| Illinois | #132 | 108 | 1 in 696 |
| Oklahoma | #133 | 31 | 1 in 648 |
| Wyoming | #133 | 6 | 1 in 548 |
| Washington | #135 | 41 | 1 in 673 |
| Arkansas | #136 | 21 | 1 in 606 |
| North Dakota | #136 | 8 | 1 in 611 |
| New York | #139 | 138 | 1 in 734 |
| Rhode Island | #141 | 6 | 1 in 742 |
| Oregon | #147 | 24 | 1 in 707 |
| Utah | #150 | 23 | 1 in 702 |
| Michigan | #151 | 71 | 1 in 826 |
| Indiana | #161 | 39 | 1 in 895 |
| Virginia | #161 | 36 | 1 in 835 |
| Georgia | #163 | 41 | 1 in 849 |
| Ohio | #164 | 78 | 1 in 926 |
| Missouri | #169 | 34 | 1 in 944 |
| Kentucky | #175 | 26 | 1 in 918 |
| Maryland | #182 | 21 | 1 in 998 |
| Louisiana | #186 | 31 | 1 in 988 |
| North Carolina | #189 | 33 | 1 in 1,004 |
| Alabama | #192 | 23 | 1 in 989 |
| Maine | #222 | 5 | 1 in 1,257 |
| South Carolina | #231 | 14 | 1 in 1,281 |
| District of Columbia | #271 | 5 | 1 in 1,155 |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — |
| Vermont | — | — | — |
Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.
See more about Brenda
- 385 spots since 2024 (#1,140 → #1,525)
- 264 spots since 2020 (#1,261 → #1,525)
- 720 spots since 2015 (#805 → #1,525)
- Biggest jump: 212 spots in 1925 (#1,188 → #976)
- Biggest drop: 106 spots in 2011 (#426 → #532)
- Debuted 1897
- Peaked 1961 at #11 (23,781 births)
- Births halved by 1967, 6 yrs later
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: 39 yrs · run 1939–1977
- Top 1,000: 90 yrs · run 1929–2017
- Highest: 1 in 82 girls born in 1950 were named Brenda (1.2%)
- Latest: 1 in 11,563 girls born in 2025 (0.01%)
- Its best rank, #11 in 1961, was only 1 in 85 (1.2%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
- 34.4% of all girls named Brenda (209,241) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 7 | #1,263 (1897) | #1,263 |
| 1900s | 32 | #1,420 (1905) | #1,603 |
| 1910s | 180 | #1,297 (1912) | #1,633 |
| 1920s | 469 | #922 (1929) | #1,139 |
| 1930s | 4,380 | #86 (1939) | #561 |
| 1940s | 112,415 | #13 (1949) | #29 |
| 1950s | 209,241 | #13 (1957) | #16 |
| 1960s | 164,502 | #11 (1961) | #22 |
| 1970s | 48,591 | #40 (1970) | #69 |
| 1980s | 24,147 | #112 (1981) | #121 |
| 1990s | 24,929 | #114 (1993) | #130 |
| 2000s | 14,348 | #172 (2000) | #248 |
| 2010s | 4,142 | #426 (2010) | #750 |
| 2020s | 1,095 | #1,140 (2024) | #1,282 |
All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.
Brenda in 1981
Top girls' names in 1981
Top boys' names in 1981
More about 1981
girls
1,668,060 girls got a published name in 1981; 1 in 613 of them was named Brenda, which outranked 99.1% of the 12,198 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,791,177 boys got a published name in 1981; 1 in 59,706 of them was named Brenda, which outranked 74.4% of the 7,289 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.6% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
- #1,811Tremain31
- #1,811Vasilios31
- #1,811Veronica31
- #1,865Brenda30
- #1,865Arian30
- #1,865Damen30
- #1,865Elan30
- #1,899Audie29
- #1,899Blaise29
- #1,899Brantley29
Tied with 33 names at #1,865; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.