The first name Bret

Bret last appeared in the official list in 2017, given to 4 boys. It peaked in 1998, with 17 births (#887).

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

In 2025, 20 boys born in the United States were named Bret, the 4,883rd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1959, when 1,839 were.

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.

• Bret Easton Ellis
  American novelist, screenwriter, born 1964
• Bret Harte
  American writer and poet (1836–1902)
• Bret Hart
  Canadian-American professional wrestler, writer and actor, born 1957
• Bret Michaels
  American rock musician, born 1963
• Bret Iwan
  American voice actor, born 1982
• Bret Harrison
  American actor, born 1982
• Bret Baier
  American journalist, host of Special Report with Bret Baier on Fox News Channel, born 1970
• Bret Taylor
  American businessman, born 1980
• Bret Stephens
  American journalist, born 1973
• Bret Weinstein
  Biologist, professor, public intellectual, born 1969
• Bret Hedican
  American ice hockey player, born 1970
• Bret Loehr
  American actor, born 1993

How popular is the name Bret?

In 2017, 4 boys born in England and Wales were named Bret, ranking 3,996th. Its peak was 1998, with 17 births.

Is Bret a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 30,051 US babies named Bret since 1880 were boys.

When was Bret most popular?

1959 in the United States, when 1,839 babies were named Bret, its highest rank at 170th.

What name is Bret a form of?

Bret is a form of Brett.