Brennan
Brennan is a boys' name of Celtic origin meaning “sorrow, drop of water.” An Irish surname turned given name, from the Gaelic 'Braonán' meaning sorrow or moisture/teardrop.
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how do you pronounce Brennan?
BREN-un
where does the name Brennan come from?
Anglicized from a Gaelic surname meaning descendant of Braonán. The root braon is glossed as moisture or drop, and also as sorrow; an alternative derivation is from Branán, a diminutive of bran, raven. Brennan is sometimes a contracted form of Brendan and, though mainly masculine, is occasionally used for girls.
Despite the melancholic meaning, the name has a strong, warm sound. The Brennans were a powerful medieval Irish clan. It works beautifully as both surname and first name.
how popular is this name?
Brennan has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 56 years since 1966, and fell outside it for 1. It peaked at #242 in 2009, and ranked #995 in 2022.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2022 | #995 |
| 2021 | #871 |
| 2020 | #764 |
| 2019 | #719 |
| 2018 | #661 |
| 2017 | #585 |
| 2016 | #534 |
| 2015 | #444 |
| 2014 | #387 |
| 2013 | #345 |
| 2010 | #270 |
| 2009 | #242 |
| 2000 | #276 |
| 1990 | #382 |
| 1980 | #737 |
| 1970 | #931 |
| 1966 | #998 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Brennan fell outside the top 1,000.
who are famous people named Brennan?
- Brennan Lee Mulligan (comedian and Dimension 20 host)
- The Brennan family (powerful Irish clan)
what names are similar to Brennan?
what names go well with Brennan?
Sibling names that share Brennan's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Brennan
What does the name Brennan mean?
Brennan means “sorrow, drop of water”.
What is the origin of the name Brennan?
Brennan comes from the Celtic naming tradition.
How popular is the name Brennan?
Brennan ranked #995 in the US in 2022, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2009, at #242, and it has spent 56 years in the top 1,000 since 1966.
Is Brennan a boy or girl name?
Brennan is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Brennan?
Brennan is pronounced BREN-un, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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