Brian

Last seen for girls in 2015 at #16,419 · #339 for boys in 2025, 979 births
Given to boys 99.6% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1972 · 36,306 births
Debut · boys
5 births
In top 100 · boys
63 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
1,173,735
since 1909

Brian over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201943peak #8, 1972boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025—#339979
2024—#3021,116
2023—#3171,049
2022—#2891,180
2021—#2881,188
2020—#2711,261
2019—#2471,479
2018—#2351,631
2017—#2161,778
2016—#2041,984
2015#16,4195#1882,218
2014—#1682,536
2013#16,5475#1502,645
2012#9,71111#1412,820
2011#16,7645#1223,250
2010#12,2768#1013,766
2009#15,2426#944,658
2008#11,5999#875,263
2007#5,89523#816,075
2006#12,4208#726,511
2005#5,26624#636,920
2004#3,49042#597,333
2003#5,79520#597,672
2002#5,89719#518,082
2001#6,61916#468,303
2000#4,07930#438,958
1999#5,21920#438,808
1998#4,36625#419,146
1997#4,37024#379,739
1996#3,72329#3610,476
1995#2,42153#3610,991
1994#3,16836#3711,648
1993#2,72544#3412,544
1992#2,83042#3114,107
1991#2,55048#3014,915
1990#2,40251#2716,935
1989#1,87370#2418,106
1988#1,196126#2219,532
1987#1,162126#2020,362
1986#1,057142#2021,027
1985#1,071137#1823,069
1984#979147#1724,720
1983#947156#1426,050
1982#1,005147#1425,829
1981#1,009144#1426,583
1980#884173#1228,715
1979#931158#1028,659
1978#858171#929,432
1977#829181#832,492
1976#870155#830,517
1975#878151#830,578
1974#912138#834,449
1973#820160#835,686
1972#796171#836,306
1971#886150#932,624
1970#891148#831,917
1969#932130#931,669
1968#1,013105#1029,922
1967#1,002104#1028,646
1966#1,11989#1427,253
1965#1,27471#1924,552
1964#1,41963#2024,167
1963#1,50855#2024,133
1962#1,42960#2023,221
1961#1,80740#2022,566
1960#1,54252#2022,000
1959#1,76539#2220,737
1958#1,76238#2419,279
1957#2,16826#2617,519
1956#2,62219#3214,666
1955#2,28023#4010,109
1954#3,32512#488,078
1953#3,68710#536,665
1952#3,04013#645,741
1951#4,0118#755,101
1950#5,3015#794,441
1949#4,6736#863,854
1948#4,6516#953,358
1947#3,06112#953,450
1946#3,6658#1032,585
1945#4,5565#1131,989
1944—#1161,954
1943#3,04010#1201,950
1942—#1391,523
1941—#1531,123
1940—#1631,007
1939—#176808
1938—#204609
1937—#228519
1936—#289344
1935—#347254
1934—#402187
1933—#450150
1932—#538119
1931—#61693
1930—#64590
1929—#557112
1928—#603104
1927—#75475
1926—#1,01047
1925—#87159
1924—#1,16938
1923—#1,21335
1922—#1,30831
1921—#1,25234
1920—#1,30031
1919—#2,15214
1918—#2,39812
1917—#2,09114
1916—#1,77117
1915—#1,50521
1914—#1,97511
1913—#1,44114
1912—#2,2696
1911—#1,3877
1910——
1909—#1,4405
1908——
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First appearance
1909

The first year at least five boys were named Brian! It came in at #1,440, and was given to 5 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1909–1910, when fewer than 6 boys a year got the name.

Where Brian is popular in 1943

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Brian, so not publishedAKMaine: #39 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 175 boysMEVermont: #67 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 295 boysVTNew Hampshire: #58 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 276 boysNHWashington: #107 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 592 boysWAIdaho: #116 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 526 boysIDMontana: #130 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 766 boysMTNorth Dakota: #121 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 649 boysNDMinnesota: #94 for boys · 47 births · 1 in 565 boysMNIllinois: #86 for boys · 140 births · 1 in 521 boysILWisconsin: #74 for boys · 71 births · 1 in 418 boysWIMichigan: #70 for boys · 157 births · 1 in 373 boysMINew York: #62 for boys · 385 births · 1 in 311 boysNYMassachusetts: #53 for boys · 134 births · 1 in 306 boysMARhode Island: #62 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 374 boysRIOregon: #95 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 482 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Brian, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Brian, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #165 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,068 boysSDIowa: #160 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 1,115 boysIAIndiana: #164 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 1,369 boysINOhio: #125 for boys · 75 births · 1 in 905 boysOHPennsylvania: #96 for boys · 118 births · 1 in 791 boysPANew Jersey: #73 for boys · 81 births · 1 in 463 boysNJConnecticut: #47 for boys · 77 births · 1 in 230 boysCTCalifornia: #97 for boys · 161 births · 1 in 508 boysCAUtah: #116 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 554 boysUTColorado: #139 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 739 boysCONebraska: #110 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 595 boysNEMissouri: #244 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 2,666 boysMOKentucky: #372 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 4,933 boysKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 boys named Brian, so not publishedWVVirginia: #315 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 3,820 boysVAMaryland: #126 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 853 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Brian, so not publishedDEArizona: #187 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 1,004 boysAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 boys named Brian, so not publishedNMKansas: #152 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 949 boysKSArkansas: #280 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 2,630 boysARTennessee: #307 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 3,670 boysTNNorth Carolina: #395 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 5,443 boysNCSouth Carolina: fewer than 5 boys named Brian, so not publishedSCDistrict of Columbia: #85 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 486 boysDCOklahoma: #292 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 2,821 boysOKLouisiana: #214 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 1,357 boysLAMississippi: fewer than 5 boys named Brian, so not publishedMSAlabama: fewer than 5 boys named Brian, so not publishedALGeorgia: #476 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 7,338 boysGAHawaii: #104 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 547 boysHITexas: #282 for boys · 39 births · 1 in 1,999 boysTXFlorida: #228 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 1,818 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Maine#39 · 1 in 175
  2. Connecticut#47 · 1 in 230
  3. Massachusetts#53 · 1 in 306
  4. New Hampshire#58 · 1 in 276
  5. New York#62 · 1 in 311

Best ever in a state: #2 in Pennsylvania, 1973.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Maine#39461 in 175
Connecticut#47771 in 230
Massachusetts#531341 in 306
New Hampshire#58151 in 276
New York#623851 in 311
Rhode Island#62171 in 374
Vermont#67101 in 295
Michigan#701571 in 373
New Jersey#73811 in 463
Wisconsin#74711 in 418
District of Columbia#85201 in 486
Illinois#861401 in 521
Minnesota#94471 in 565
Oregon#95241 in 482
Pennsylvania#961181 in 791
California#971611 in 508
Hawaii#10491 in 547
Washington#107341 in 592
Nebraska#110191 in 595
Idaho#116101 in 526
Utah#116141 in 554
North Dakota#12191 in 649
Ohio#125751 in 905
Maryland#126231 in 853
Montana#13061 in 766
Colorado#139151 in 739
Kansas#152171 in 949
Iowa#160201 in 1,115
Indiana#164251 in 1,369
South Dakota#16551 in 1,068
Arizona#18771 in 1,004
Louisiana#214201 in 1,357
Florida#228121 in 1,818
Missouri#244131 in 2,666
Arkansas#28081 in 2,630
Texas#282391 in 1,999
Oklahoma#29281 in 2,821
Tennessee#30791 in 3,670
Virginia#31581 in 3,820
Kentucky#37261 in 4,933
North Carolina#39581 in 5,443
Georgia#47651 in 7,338
Alabama———
Alaska———
Delaware———
Mississippi———
Nevada———
New Mexico———
South Carolina———
West Virginia———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys 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 Brian
Momentum · boys
Falling
  • 37 spots since 2024 (#302 → #339)
  • 68 spots since 2020 (#271 → #339)
  • 151 spots since 2015 (#188 → #339)
  • Biggest jump: 298 spots in 1925 (#1,169 → #871)
  • Biggest drop: 139 spots in 1926 (#871 → #1,010)
Rise & fade · boys
63 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1909
  • Peaked 1972 at #8 (36,306 births)
  • Births halved by 1989, 17 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 10 for 13 yrs
  • Top 10: 13 yrs · run 1967–1979
  • Top 100: 63 yrs · run 1947–2009
  • Top 1,000: 100 yrs · run 1927–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 44
  • Highest: 1 in 44 boys born in 1973 were named Brian (2.3%)
  • Latest: 1 in 1,745 boys born in 2025 (0.06%)
  • Its best rank, #8 in 1972, was only 1 in 45 (2.2%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · boys
The 1970s
  • 27.5% of all boys named Brian (322,660) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1900s5#1,440 (1909)#1,440
1910s116#1,387 (1911)#1,888
1920s566#557 (1929)#1,004
1930s3,173#176 (1939)#390
1940s22,793#86 (1949)#118
1950s112,336#22 (1959)#46
1960s258,129#9 (1969)#16
1970s322,660#8 (1972)#8
1980s233,993#12 (1980)#18
1990s119,309#27 (1990)#35
2000s69,775#43 (2000)#66
2010s24,107#101 (2010)#177
2020s6,773#271 (2020)#301

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Brian in 1943

girls
#3,040
10 births · 1 in 139,529 girls
boys
#120
1,950 births · 1 in 732 boys

Top girls' names in 1943

  1. #1Mary66,174
  2. #2Barbara43,432
  3. #3Patricia39,620
  4. #4Linda38,439
  5. #5Carol31,686
  6. #6Sandra25,990
  7. #7Judith25,214
  8. #8Sharon24,712
  9. #9Nancy23,988
  10. #10Betty21,596
  11. #3,040Brian10

Top boys' names in 1943

  1. #1James80,278
  2. #2Robert74,892
  3. #3John68,929
  4. #4William55,904
  5. #5Richard46,339
  6. #6David37,240
  7. #7Charles36,632
  8. #8Thomas32,874
  9. #9Ronald29,239
  10. #10Michael24,745
  11. #120Brian1,950
More about 1943

girls

1,395,293 girls got a published name in 1943; 1 in 139,529 of them was named Brian, which outranked 43.4% of the 5,367 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.4% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Brian
  1. #2,861Warren11
  2. #2,861Wilhemina11
  3. #2,861Wynette11
  4. #3,040Brian10
  5. #3,040Adriane10
  6. #3,040Ailene10
  7. #3,040Aldene10
  8. #3,249Adel9
  9. #3,249Agness9
  10. #3,249Alaine9

Tied with 208 names at #3,040; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1942
Risers
  1. ↑ 878Tana#1,559 → #681
  2. ↑ 754Rozanne#1,706 → #952
  3. ↑ 722Cheryle#1,592 → #870
  4. ↑ 596Tena#1,592 → #996
  5. ↑ 525Alexis#1,349 → #824
Fallers
  1. ↓ 594Florida#997 → #1,591
  2. ↓ 467Jerilynn#581 → #1,048
  3. ↓ 364Lorelei#864 → #1,228
  4. ↓ 308Kaaren#536 → #844
  5. ↓ 305Erna#864 → #1,169

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,427,297 boys got a published name in 1943; 1 in 732 of them was named Brian, which outranked 97.0% of the 4,040 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 34.1% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Brian
  1. #117Vernon2,093
  2. #118Rodney1,984
  3. #119Franklin1,973
  4. #120Brian1,950
  5. #121Leslie1,918
  6. #122Charlie1,835
  7. #123Gilbert1,816
Biggest movers since 1942
Risers
  1. ↑ 514Derek#1,228 → #714
  2. ↑ 465Armond#1,421 → #956
  3. ↑ 368Les#1,214 → #846
  4. ↑ 347Aron#1,244 → #897
  5. ↑ 321Edsel#1,167 → #846
Fallers
  1. ↓ 500Humberto#780 → #1,280
  2. ↓ 352Chauncey#928 → #1,280
  3. ↓ 352Clearence#991 → #1,343
  4. ↓ 344Macarthur#512 → #856
  5. ↓ 325Reyes#933 → #1,258

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1943 →