Bryan
How to say it: BRY-un · /ˈbraɪən/
Variant spelling of Brian, from Old Irish brigh meaning 'strength' or 'virtue'; a royal Irish name.
Bryan was the 198th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 1,005 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1980s, its births are down about 58% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #263 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #198 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 1,005 |
| Share of births | 1 in 1,671 |
| Peak decade | 1980s |
| Change over 10 years | −58% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #263 |
| In France, 2025 | #356 among boys’ names, 120 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Popularity for Bryan centered in the 1980s. Now far below that peak, it is expected to keep slipping.
What goes with it
With soft sounds edged in crispness, Bryan feels solid and strong. Sean is a similar style choice and Bry is an easy short form.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Bryan is about 1 in 70.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, Irish.
In France: #356 for boys in 2025.
England and Wales: #499. Ireland: #373.
Famous people named Bryan
- Bryan Adams (born 1959)Canadian singer-songwriter and musician
- Bryan Cranston (born 1956)American actor
- Bryan Ruiz (born 1985)Costa Rican footballer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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