Bryan is a name of English origin, derived from the Old English words "beor" meaning "berry" or "bear," and "hun" which means "bear cub." Thus, Bryan means "little bear."
The name Bryan has been popular throughout history. It was borne by several notable figures in the Middle Ages, such as Saint Bryan of Kleinberg, a German hermit who lived in the 14th century. In more recent times, Bryan Ferry, the British musician and singer-songwriter best known as the lead vocalist and main songwriter with the art rock band Roxy Music, is among the most famous individuals named Bryan.
The name Bryan has also been used by many people outside of England. For instance, in Ireland, it's considered an Irish name due to its similarity to the Irish surname "Ó Broin." Meanwhile, in Spain and Latin America, Bryan is often spelled with an "y" instead of an "i," as Bryán.
The popularity of the name Bryan has varied over time. In the United States, for example, it was among the top 100 names for boys from the 1950s to the late 1980s but has since declined in usage. Despite this, Bryan remains a classic and timeless name that continues to be chosen by parents around the world.
In terms of its meaning, "little bear" is often associated with qualities such as strength, courage, and protectiveness, although these traits are not inherent to anyone named Bryan. Ultimately, whether Bryan is chosen for its meanings or simply because it sounds appealing, it remains a name with a rich history and a unique origin story.
Based on the statistics provided, we can observe several trends regarding the popularity of the name Bryan over time in the United States.
From 1921 to around 1968, the number of babies named Bryan remained relatively low and fluctuating. During this period, there were fewer than 15 births per year with this name, peaking at just 19 births in 1967.
Starting in the late 1960s, however, the popularity of the name Bryan began to rise significantly. Between 1969 and 1973, there were over 20 births each year, with a peak of 38 births in 1969. This trend continued throughout most of the 1970s and early 1980s, with annual birth counts ranging from around 20 to over 40.
The name Bryan reached its peak popularity between 1985 and 1987, with more than 40 births each year. In 1986 alone, there were 48 babies named Bryan, marking the highest number of births for this name in the United States during the time frame provided.
Following this peak, the popularity of the name Bryan began to decline. From around 1988 onwards, annual birth counts dropped significantly, with fewer than 40 births each year. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, the number of babies named Bryan had fallen considerably, with just single-digit figures recorded annually from 1995 to 2003.
This trend of decreasing popularity has continued relatively consistently since then, with annual birth counts ranging between five and twenty births per year. The most recent data provided shows that there were five births each in both 2019 and 2021.
In total, over the course of these years, there have been approximately 1400 babies named Bryan born in the United States. This information highlights the shifts in popularity of the name Bryan throughout different decades and provides insight into its overall prevalence among baby names during this period.