Brannigan is a distinctive and uncommon given name of Irish origin. It is derived from an Irish surname that was originally an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name 'Ó Branagáin', which means 'descendant of Branagan'. The name Branagan itself is believed to have been a personal name meaning 'little raven'.
The name Brannigan had a spike in popularity between 1976 and 2009, with a notable increase from 5 to 6 births per year between those years. However, overall the name remains quite rare, with only 16 individuals named Brannigan born during this period.