Gender:
Origin:
Gaelic
4057 famous people named Brian found on Wikipedia.
1165588 male, 4566 female in US.
Most recent ranking:
235-th in year 2018
Best ranking:
8-th in year 1977
Used in: Ancient-Celtic, English, Irish
Brian (sometimes spelled Bryan) is a male given name of Irish and Breton origin, as well as a surname of Occitan origin. It is common in the English-speaking world. It is possible that the name is derived from an Old Celtic word meaning "high" or "noble". For example, the element bre means "hill"; which could be transferred to mean "eminence" or "exalted one". The name is quite popular in Ireland, on account of Brian Boru, a 10th-century king of Ireland. The name was also quite popular in East Anglia during the Middle Ages. This is because the name was introduced to England by Bretons following the Norman Conquest. Bretons also settled in Ireland along with the Normans in the 12th century, and 'their' name was mingled with the 'Irish' version. Also, in the north-west of England, the 'Irish' name was introduced by Scandinavian settlers from Ireland. Within the Gaelic speaking areas of Scotland, the name was at first only used by professional families of Irish origin. It was the fourth most popular male name in England and Wales in 1934, but a sharp decline followed over the remainder of the 20th century and by 1994 it had fallen out of the top 100. It retained its popularity in the United States for longer; its most popular period there was from 1968–1979 when it consistently ranked between eighth and tenth. The name has become increasingly popular in South America - particularly Argentina and Uruguay since the early 1990s.
The surname Brian is sometimes an English and Irish variant spelling of the surname Bryan. The English and French surname Brian is sometimes derived from the personal Celtic personal name shown above. The surname Brian can also sometimes be a French surname; derived from the Old Occitan word brian, meaning "maggot" and used as a nickname.
Variants of the name include Briant, Brien, Bran, Brion, Bryan, Bryant, Brjánn (in Icelandic) and Bryon. Variant spellings such as "Brien" are sometimes used as female given names, especially among members of the Irish diaspora.
Means: strong, virtuous, noble, honorable, hill in Irish. Means: exalted, high-minded, strength with honor in Ancient Celtic.
Popularity | Name | Birth Year | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Brian Austin Green | 1973 | Actor |
2 | Brian May | 1947 | English musician and astrophysicist |
3 | Brian Johnson | 1947 | English singer and songwriter |
4 | Brian Cox | 1968 | English physicist and former musician |
5 | Brian Eno | 1948 | English musician, composer, record producer and visual artist |
6 | Brian Jones | 1942 | British rock musician, former member of The Rolling Stones |
7 | Brian Williams | 1959 | American TV news anchor |
8 | Brian Hallisay | 1978 | American actor |
9 | Brian Dennehy | 1938 | American actor |
10 | Brian Keith | 1921 | Actor |
11 | Brian Littrell | 1975 | American male singer |
12 | Brian De Palma | 1940 | American film director and screenwriter |
13 | Brian Bosworth | 1965 | All-American college football player, professional football player, linebacker |
14 | Brian Doyle-Murray | 1945 | American actor and comedian |
15 | Brian Kendrick | 1979 | Professional wrestler |
16 | Brian Blessed | 1936 | British actor and comedian |
17 | Brian Scalabrine | 1978 | American basketball player |
18 | Brian Clough | 1935 | English footballer and manager |
19 | Brian McFadden | 1980 | Irish singer |
20 | Brian Epstein | 1934 | Personal manager, impresario |
21 | Brian Hoyer | 1985 | American football quarterback |
22 | Brian d'Arcy James | 1968 | Actor, musician |
23 | Brian Banks | 1985 | American football player |
24 | Brian Lara | 1969 | West Indian cricketer |
25 | Brian Tee | 1977 | American actor |
26 | Brian Bonsall | 1981 | Actor |
27 | Brian Baumgartner | 1972 | American actor |
28 | Brian Welch | 1970 | American musician |
29 | Brian Mulroney | 1939 | 18th Prime Minister of Canada |
30 | Brian Gleeson | 1987 | Actor |
31 | Brian J. Smith | 1981 | American actor |
32 | Brian Pillman | 1962 | American sportsperson |
33 | Brian Urlacher | 1978 | All-American college football player, professional football player, linebacker |
34 | Brian McKnight | 1969 | American singer-songwriter, arranger, producer, and R&B musician |
35 | Brian Adams | 1964 | American professional wrestler |
36 | Brian Cushing | 1987 | American football player, linebacker |
37 | Brian David Mitchell | 1953 | American preacher |
38 | Brian Chesky | 1981 | American businessman |
39 | Brian Nichols | 1971 | American murderer |
40 | Brian Piccolo | 1943 | American football player |
41 | Brian Wilson | 1982 | Baseball pitcher |
42 | Brian Friedman | 1977 | American dancer and choreographer |
43 | Brian Setzer | 1959 | American singer |
44 | Brian Posehn | 1966 | American actor, musician and comedian born 1966 |
45 | Brian Acton | 1972 | American computer programmer and Internet entrepreneur, co-founder of WhatsApp |
46 | Brian Molko | 1972 | Musician |
47 | Brian O'Conner | 1973 | Fictional character and the lead protagonist of The Fast and the Furious series |
48 | Brian J. White | 1975 | American actor |
49 | Brian Sandoval | 1963 | 29th Governor of Nevada and former United States District Judge |
50 | Brian Murphy | 1933 | English actor born 1932 |
51 | Brian Krause | 1969 | American actor |
52 | Brian Geraghty | 1975 | American actor |
53 | Brian Dawkins | 1973 | Professional football player, safety |
54 | Brian Griese | 1975 | American football player |
55 | Brian Benben | 1956 | Actor |
56 | Brian Grazer | 1951 | American film producer |
57 | Brian Henson | 1963 | American puppeteer |
58 | Brian Thompson | 1959 | Actor |
59 | Brian Greene | 1963 | American physicist |
60 | Brian Regan | 1957 | American comedian |
61 | Brian Laudrup | 1969 | Danish footballer |
62 | Brian Cage | 1984 | Professional wrestler |
63 | Brian Christopher | 1972 | American professional wrestler |
64 | Brian Bloom | 1970 | Actor |
65 | Brian Stann | 1980 | American martial artist |
66 | Brian Stokes Mitchell | 1957 | American actor |
67 | Brian Matthew | 1928 | British broadcaster |
68 | Brian Dietzen | 1977 | American actor |
69 | Brian Kilmeade | 1964 | American sportscaster |
70 | Morgan Brian | 1993 | American soccer player |
71 | Brian Connolly | 1945 | British musician |
72 | Brian Boru | 0941 | High King of Ireland |
73 | Brian Van Holt | 1969 | American actor |
74 | Brian O'Driscoll | 1979 | Irish rugby union player |
75 | Brian Boitano | 1963 | United States figure skater |
76 | Brian George | 1952 | British actor |
77 | Brian Harvey | 1974 | English musician and former lead singer of East 17 |
78 | Brian Harman | 1987 | Professional golfer |
79 | Brian Dunkleman | 1971 | Comedian, actor, television personality |
80 | Brian Ortega | 1991 | Mixed martial artist |
81 | Brian Michael Bendis | 1967 | American comic book writer and artist |
82 | Brian Clark | 1947 | Survivor of the September 11 attacks |
83 | Brian Shaw | 1966 | American basketball player and coach |
84 | Brian Cant | 1933 | English actor, television presenter and writer |
85 | Brian Wilde | 1927 | British actor |
86 | Brian Stepanek | 1971 | American actor |
87 | Brian Bedford | 1935 | British actor |
88 | Brian Fallon | 1980 | Musician |
89 | Brian Hargrove | 1956 | Television writer and producer |
90 | Brian L. Roberts | 1959 | American media executive and businessman |
91 | Brian K. Vaughan | 1976 | American screenwriter, comic book creator |
92 | Brian McCann | 1984 | Major League Baseball catcher |
93 | Brian Westbrook | 1979 | American football player, running back |
94 | Brian Schatz | 1972 | Hawaii politician |
95 | Brian Tyree Henry | American actor | |
96 | Brian Helgeland | 1961 | American film director |
97 | Brian Billick | 1954 | American football player and coach |
98 | Brian Krzanich | 1960 | American chemist, engineer, entrepreneur and businessperson |
99 | Brian O'Halloran | 1969 | Actor |
100 | Brian Kidd | 1949 | Footballer and manager |
101 | Brian Sewell | 1931 | English art critic |
102 | Brian Orakpo | 1986 | All-American college football player, professional football player, linebacker |
103 | Brian Kernighan | 1942 | Canadian computer scientist |
104 | Brian Houston | 1954 | New Zealand pastor |
105 | Brian McBride | 1972 | American soccer player |
106 | Brian Pumper | 1981 | American pornographic film director and actor |
107 | Brian Moynihan | 1959 | American businessman, banking executive and lawyer |
108 | Brian Kibler | 1980 | American player of Magic: The Gathering |
109 | Brian Stelter | 1985 | American journalist |
110 | Brian Cassidy | Fictional character | |
111 | Brian Klugman | 1975 | American actor and director |
112 | Brian Donlevy | 1901 | Actor |
113 | Brian Elliott | 1985 | Canadian ice hockey player |
114 | Brian Tyler | 1972 | American composer, producer, conductor, and film producer |
115 | Brian Boyle | 1984 | American ice hockey player |
116 | Brian Lindstrom | 1961 | American filmmaker |
117 | Brian Rix | 1924 | British actor |
118 | Brian Conley | 1961 | English comedian, and television presenter |
119 | Brian Robertson | 1956 | Musician, songwriter |
120 | Brian Huskey | 1968 | American actor and comedian |
121 | Brian Sacca | 1978 | American actor |
122 | Brian VanGorder | 1959 | American football coach |
123 | Brian Glover | 1934 | English character actor, writer and wrestler |
124 | Brian T. Delaney | American actor | |
125 | Brian Weiss | 1944 | American psychiatrist |
126 | Brian Vickers | 1983 | American motor racing driver |
127 | Brian Cashman | 1967 | American baseball executive |
128 | Brian Aherne | 1902 | English actor |
129 | Brian Backer | 1956 | American actor |
130 | Brian Brushwood | 1975 | American magician, podcaster, author and comedian |
131 | Brian Friel | 1929 | Irish dramatist, author and theatre director |
132 | Brian Dozier | 1987 | Baseball player from the United States |
133 | Brian Forster | 1960 | American actor |
134 | Brian McNamara | 1960 | American actor |
135 | Brian Jacques | 1939 | British fiction writer known for Redwall animal fantasy novels |
136 | Brian Hyland | 1943 | American pop singer |
137 | Brian Kerwin | 1949 | Actor |
138 | Brian Haley | 1963 | American actor and comedian |
139 | Brian Dunning | 1965 | American writer |
140 | Brian Windhorst | 1978 | American sportswriter for ESPN.com who covers the National Basketball Association |
141 | Brian Burke | 1955 | American ice hockey player |
142 | Brian Tochi | 1963 | American actor |
143 | Brian Robbins | 1963 | Actor, producer, director |
144 | Brian McClair | 1963 | Scottish footballer |
145 | Brian Koppelman | 1966 | American film director |
146 | Brian Banner | ||
147 | Brian Gionta | 1979 | American ice hockey player |
148 | Brian Hartline | 1986 | American football player |
149 | Brian Orser | 1961 | Retired Canadian professional figure skater |
150 | Brian Brohm | 1985 | American football quarterback |
151 | Brian Moore | 1962 | British rugby player, referee, commentator |
152 | Brian Lee | American businessman | |
153 | Brian Goodman | 1963 | American actor |
154 | Brian Steele | 1956 | American actor |
155 | Brian Thomas Smith | 1977 | Actor and comedian |
156 | Brian Leetch | 1968 | American ice hockey player |
157 | Brian McDermott | 1961 | Footballer, manager and scout |
158 | Brian Knobbs | 1964 | Professional wrestler |
159 | Brian Drummond | 1969 | Canadian actor |
160 | Brian Sims | 1978 | American politician |
161 | Brian Schmidt | 1967 | American-Australian astrophysicist and Nobel laureate |
162 | Brian Gibson | 1944 | English film and television director |
163 | Brian Patrick Wade | 1978 | American actor |
164 | Brian Campbell | 1979 | Canadian ice hockey player |
165 | Brian Bell | 1968 | Musician |
166 | Brian Grant | 1972 | American basketball player |
167 | Brian Nielsen | 1965 | Danish boxer |
168 | Brian Justin Crum | 1988 | |
169 | Brian Horrocks | 1895 | British Army officer |
170 | Brian Baker | 1965 | American punk musician |
171 | Brian Sipe | 1949 | American football player |
172 | Brian Aldiss | 1925 | British science fiction author |
173 | Brian Kinney | Fictional character from Queer as Folk | |
174 | Brian Downey | 1951 | Musician, songwriter |
175 | Brian Marshall | 1973 | American musician |
176 | Brian Viloria | 1980 | American boxer |
177 | Brian Davis | 1970 | American basketball player |
178 | Brian Burns | American screenwriter, producer and director | |
179 | Brian Unger | 1965 | American television personality |
180 | Brian Souter | 1954 | British businessman |
181 | Brian Deegan | 1975 | American motorcycle racer |
182 | Brian Auger | 1939 | British jazz and rock keyboardist |
183 | Brian Hibbard | 1946 | British actor |
184 | Brian Haner | 1958 | American musician |
185 | Brian Tichy | 1968 | American musician |
186 | Brian Selznick | 1966 | American children's illustrator and writer |
187 | Brian Azzarello | 1962 | American comic book writer |
188 | Brian Deacon | 1949 | British actor |
189 | Brian O'Nolan | 1911 | Irish writer |
190 | Brian Tracy | 1944 | American motivational speaker and writer |
191 | Brian Cowen | 1960 | Irish politician |
192 | Brian Cook | 1980 | Professional basketball player |
193 | Brian Markinson | 2000 | Canadian actor |
194 | Brian Babin | 1948 | American Congressman |
195 | Brian Jordan | 1967 | American baseball player |
196 | Brian France | 1962 | American auto racing executive |
197 | Brian Quick | 1989 | American Football player |
198 | Brian Fargo | 1962 | American video game producer and developer |
199 | Brian Schottenheimer | 1973 | American college and professional football coach |
200 | Brian Dowling | 1978 | Irish television presenter |