Bretney is a unique and modern given name of American origin. It is derived from the French surname Breton, which originally referred to someone from Brittany, a region in northwest France. Over time, Breton evolved into Bretney, likely due to its phonetic similarity to other names like Brittany or Bretony. Bretney has gained popularity as a first name for girls in recent decades, particularly in the United States. It is often associated with contemporary and independent women, reflecting the trends in naming practices of its time.
The name Bretney peaked in popularity between 1987 and 1989 with a combined total of 18 births during those years. However, it seems to have declined significantly thereafter, with only five births recorded in both 1992 and 1995. Overall, there were 44 babies named Bretney from 1985 to 1995.