Brendan

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Brendan

Gender: Masculine
Language/Origin: English, Irish

Etymology:
Brendan is the modern English form of Brendanus, the medieval Latin form of a Celtic name, Bréannan, from the Old Irish name Bréanainn. Originally it meant “Dark Haired,” “Little Raven,” “Little Drop,” or “Prince.” The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names (1977) quotes Brenden as possibly meaning “Stinking Hair” from “bren” (stinking) and “find” (hair).

History:
Brenden was the name of two 6th century Irish saints, but was unknown outside of Ireland until the 1950s when Celtic/Gaelic names experienced a popularity surge.

Pronunciation: BREN-denn.

Diminutives: Bran.

Alternates: Branden, Brenden, Brendon, Brennan, Brennen, Brennon.
Irish (Modern): Breandán, Brenainn.
Latin: Brendanus.

Surnames:
Irish: Brandon.

Feminine: Brenda.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Brendan Gill (1914-1997)
American critic.
Brendan Behan (1923-1964)
Irish author.

Religious Figures:
Saint Brendan the Voyager (484-578)
Supposedly sailed across the Atlantic.
Saint Brendan of Birr (?-673)
Friend of St. Brenan the Voyager.

Singers and Entertainers:
Brendan Fraser (1968-)
American actor.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.019 % named Brendan
0.008 % named Branden
0.005 % named Brendon

Popularity of Brendan:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1950: N/A
1950-1960: 678th most popular.
1960-1970: 448th most popular.
1970-1980: 293rd most popular.
1980-1990: 190th most popular.
1990: 166th most popular.
1991: 156th most popular.
1992: 150th most popular.
1993: 152nd most popular.
1994: 134th most popular.
1995: 134th most popular.
1996: 133rd most popular.
1997: 108th most popular.
1998: 97th most popular.
1999: 96th most popular.
2000: 103rd most popular.
2001: 115th most popular.
2002: 124th most popular.
2003: 145th most popular.

In Ireland...
1998: 78th most popular.
1999: 84th most popular.
2000: 76th most popular.
2001: 90th most popular.
2002: 84th most popular.
2003: 81st most popular.

Popularity of Branden:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1970: N/A
1970-1980: 663rd most popular.
1980-1990: 289th most popular.
1990: 315th most popular.
1991: 281st most popular.
1992: 262nd most popular.
1993: 278th most popular.
1994: 276th most popular.
1995: 299th most popular.
1996: 290th most popular.
1997: 307th most popular.
1998: 304th most popular.
1999: 309th most popular.
2000: 342nd most popular.
2001: 344th most popular.
2002: 376th most popular.
2003: 395th most popular.

Popularity of Brenden:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1980: N/A
1980-1990: 715th most popular.
1990: 544th most popular.
1991: 478th most popular.
1992: 447th most popular.
1993: 416th most popular.
1994: 351st most popular.
1995: 360th most popular.
1996: 296th most popular.
1997: 258th most popular.
1998: 247th most popular.
1999: 244th most popular.
2000: 242nd most popular.
2001: 268th most popular.
2002: 261st most popular.
2003: 269th most popular.

Popularity of Brendon:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1970: N/A
1970-1980: 720th most popular.
1980-1990: 498th most popular.
1990: 460th most popular.
1991: 399th most popular.
1992: 378th most popular.
1993: 410th most popular.
1994: 353rd most popular.
1995: 389th most popular.
1996: 357th most popular.
1997: 336th most popular.
1998: 321st most popular.
1999: 332nd most popular.
2000: 349th most popular.
2001: 399th most popular.
2002: 404th most popular.
2003: 432nd most popular.

Popularity of Brennan:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1970: N/A
1970-1980: 856th most popular.
1980-1990: 505th most popular.
1990: 403rd most popular.
1991: 364th most popular.
1992: 382nd most popular.
1993: 380th most popular.
1994: 339th most popular.
1995: 296th most popular.
1996: 300th most popular.
1997: 295th most popular.
1998: 270th most popular.
1999: 270th most popular.
2000: 277th most popular.
2001: 279th most popular.
2002: 277th most popular.
2003: 279th most popular.

Popularity of Brennen:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1990: N/A
1990: 958th most popular.
1991: 862nd most popular.
1992: 813th most popular.
1993: 802nd most popular.
1994: 686th most popular.
1995: 687th most popular.
1996: 668th most popular.
1997: 583rd most popular.
1998: 542nd most popular.
1999: 578th most popular.
2000: 555th most popular.
2001: 576th most popular.
2002: 585th most popular.
2003: 564th most popular.

Popularity of Brannon:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1970: N/A
1970-1980: 978th most popular.
1980-1990: 855th most popular.
1990-2000: N/A
1994: N/A
1995: 984th most popular.
1996-1997: N/A
1998: 915th most popular.
1999: N/A

Popularity of Brennon:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-2000: N/A
1995: N/A
1996: 952nd most popular.
1997: 937th most popular.
1998: 889th most popular.
1999: 881st most popular.
2000: 990th most popular.
2001: 992nd most popular.
2002: N/A