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Name Lineage

    The first name Brennan

    A boy’s name from Irish meaning “descendant of braonán”, “moisture”, “drop”.

    2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Irish origin

    Brennan means “descendant of braonán”, “moisture”, “drop” in Irish.

    From Irish Ó Braonáin (“descendant of Braonán”), a diminutive of braon (“moisture, drop”). Alternatively, from Irish Ó Branáin (“descendant of Branán”), a diminutive of bran (“raven”).

    More names that mean bird.

    A form of Brendan.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 8 boys were named Brennan, making it the 2,664th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2002, with 37 births (#559).

    02040 1996200020052010201520202025
    542
    babies named Brennan, 1996–2025
    #2,664
    rank in 2025
    2002
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Brennan with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Brennan at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 226 boys born in the United States were named Brennan, the 1,003rd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2009, when 1,464 were.

    01,0002,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    35,487
    babies named Brennan since 1880
    #1,003
    rank in 2025
    2009
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Other spellings and forms

    • Branon

    Famous people named Brennan

    6 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Brennan Brown
      American stage, film, and television actor, born 1968
    • Brennan Heart
      Dutch DJ and hardstyle producer, born 1982
    • Brennan Elliott
      Actor, born 1975
    • Brennan Mejia
      Actor, born 1990
    • Brennan Othmann
      Canadian ice hockey player, born 2003
    • Kiernan Shipka
      American actress (born 1999)

    More Irish boys’ names

    All 142 names of Irish origin

    Questions

    What does the name Brennan mean?
    Brennan means “descendant of braonán”, “moisture”, “drop” in Irish.
    What is the origin of the name Brennan?
    From Irish Ó Braonáin (“descendant of Braonán”), a diminutive of braon (“moisture, drop”). Alternatively, from Irish Ó Branáin (“descendant of Branán”), a diminutive of bran (“raven”).
    How popular is the name Brennan?
    In 2025, 8 boys born in England and Wales were named Brennan, ranking 2,664th. Its peak was 2002, with 37 births.
    Is Brennan a boy's or a girl's name?
    Both. Of the 35,487 US babies named Brennan since 1880, 6% were girls and 94% boys.
    When was Brennan most popular?
    2009 in the United States, when 1,464 babies were named Brennan, its highest rank at 242nd.
    What name is Brennan a form of?
    Brennan is a form of Brendan.
    What are other spellings of Brennan?
    Branon.
    Is Brennan also a surname?
    Yes. Brennan is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.