Brian

Irish
"strong, virtuous, and honorable"

Brian Origin and Meaning

The name Brian is a boy's name of Irish origin meaning "strong, virtuous, and honorable".

The origins of the name Brian are not entirely clear, but it is suspected that it evolved from an Old Celtic word related to nobility. In Ireland the name is associated with Brian Boru, the most famous of all Irish warrior-kings, credited with driving the Vikings out of Ireland around the year 1000.

Like other native Irish names, Brian was outlawed in Ireland during the centuries of British rule, restored to use after the war for Irish independence in 1916. Irish immigrants propelled it onto the US Top 1000 list for the first time in 1925.

Because it was outlawed for so long, Brian may feel like a less classic and ancient name than it really is. Its massive popularity in the 1970s, when it ranked in the Top 10, makes it one of today's quintessential Dad Names.

While Brian has been trending downward in the US for decades, it still ranks solidly in the Top 1000, where it will likely remain for decades to come. Bryan, Bryant, and Brianna are common variations.

Brian has some pretty diverse associations—to newscaster Williams, the movie Monty Python's Life of Brian and as Marilyn Manson's real name.

# 317 in the US

Brian Rank in US Top 1000

# 301 on Nameberry

Brian Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Brian Popularity

Famous People Named Brian

  • Brian Boru
    King of Ireland
  • Brian Douglas Williams
    American broadcast journalist
  • Brian Eno (aka Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno)
    English musician
  • (Martin) Brian Mulroney
    18th prime minister of Canada
  • Brian Russell de Palma
    American film director
  • Brian Manion Dennehy
    American actor
  • Brian Anthony Boitano
    American figure skater
  • Brian McKnight
    American singer
  • Brian Austin Green
    American actor
  • Brian Samuel Epstein
    English manager of The Beatles
  • Brian Edward Gottfried
    American tennis player
  • Brian Holden
    American actor, singer, writer
  • Brian Minchin
    British TV producer
  • Brian Douglas Wilson
    American musician of The Beach Boys
  • (Louis) Brian Piccolo
    American NFL football player, subject of film "Brian's Song"
  • Brian Howard Clough
    English footballer and manager
  • Brian de la Puente
    American football player
  • Brian Kerwin
    American actor
  • Brian Urlacher
    American football player
  • Brian Denis Cox
    Scottish actor
  • Brian Regan
    American comedian
  • Brian Justin Crum
    American musician
  • Brian Rosenthal
    American actor and singer
  • Brian Thomas "B
    Rok" Littrell, American singer of the Backstreet Boys
  • Brian Logan Dales
    lead singer of American band The Summer Set
  • Brian Leo Bianchini
    American model/actor
  • Brian May
    guitarist for British band Queen
  • Brian Hallisay
    American actor
  • Brian Howe
    American actor
  • Brian Phillip "Head" Welch
    guitarist for American band Korn
  • Brian 'Astro' Bradley
    American actor and Rapper
  • Brian 'Q' Quinn
    American comedian from The Tenderloins and Impractical Jokers
  • Brian Awadis aka FaZe Rug
    American YouTuber
  • Brian Sean O'Connor (b. 2007)
    son of American television personality Kevin O'Connor
  • Brian Jones
    Multi,instrumentalist and rhythm guitarist for The Rolling Stones
  • Brian Ross Weitz
    musician and founding member of the band Animal Collective
  • Brian Johnson
    lead singer of AC/DC
  • Brian Kang/Kang Yonghyun
    bassist, singer, songwriter, and rapper of the South Korean band Day6; more popularly known by his stage name Young K
  • Brian Firkus
    American musician, TV personality, and drag queen
  • Brian Timothy Geraghty
    American actor
  • Brian Theodore Deneke (b. 1978)
    19 year old American man who was killed in a hit and run attack for being a punk rock musician

Brian in Pop Culture

  • Sir Brian de Bois
    Guilbert, character in "Ivanhoe" by Sir Walter Scott
  • Brian Griffin
    dog character on "Family Guy"
  • Brian Cohen
    main character in 1979 film "Monty Python's Life of Brian"
  • Mr. Brian Fitzpatrick
    character in “Tom Jones” (1746)
  • Brian Kinney
    character on "Queer as Folk"
  • Brian Finn
    character in "Keeping the Faith"
  • Brian O'Conner
    character in "Fast and the Furious" series
  • Brian Johnson
    character in film "The Breakfast Club"
  • Brian Shelby
    character in film "Vanilla Sky"
  • Brian Harding
    character in videogame "Dream Daddy"
  • Brian Davis
    main character on TV series "What About Brian?"
  • Brian Dufford
    character in webcomic "Camp Weedonwantcha"
  • Brian Marsh
    character in "Prince of Darkness"
  • Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
    character in Harry Potter series
  • Brian "Otis" Zvonecek
    character on TV's "Chicago Fire"
  • Brian / Green
    character in "Monster Prom"
  • Brian Thomas
    full name of Hoodie from Marble Hornets