Brenda

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Brenda

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
1. Brenda is the feminine form of Brand, a Germanic, Scandinavian name from “brandr”. Originally it meant “Sword” or “Torch.”
-or-
2. Brenda is often used as a modern English feminine form of Brendan and Brandon, though the names are unrelated etymologically.

History:
Brenda is a name that was probably created in the Shetland Islands, a group of islands in the North Sea. Though Scottish, the islands were controlled by Norway for over five centuries. The name Brenda was probably coined from the name Brand.

Sir Walter Scott used it for one of the heroine Brenda Troil of his 1821 novel The Pirate, set in the Shetlands. Scott’s novels were enormously popular throughout the Victorian Age and many of the unusual names he used were taken up by the English-speaking populace.

Brenda was a rare name in the 19th century in the United States, being slightly more popular in England. It was popularized in the 20th century, probably by the “poor-little-rich-girl” Brenda Diana Duff Frazier. She was born in 1921, her parents went through a highly publicized divorce trial in 1925 and her debut in 1938 made the cover of Life magazine.

By the 1950s Brenda was an enormously popular name. Not on for its own sake, but because it was associated with trendy Irish names like Brandon and Brendan. By the late 20th century it had begun to slowly decline, but nevertheless remains quite common.

Pronunciation: bren-dah.

Alternates: Branda, Brendalynn, Brendolyn, Brenna, Brinda, Brynda.

Famous Bearers:
Fictional Characters:
Brenda Starr (1940-)
Popular comic strip character created by Dale Messick.

Scientists:
Brenda Atkinson Milner (1918-)
British psychologist.

Singers and Entertainers:
Brenda Lee (Brenda Mae Tarpley) (1942-)
American singer.
Brenda Blethyn (1946-)
British actress.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.455 % named Brenda
0.005 % named Brenna
0.002 % named Branda

Popularity of Brenda:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1880-1924: N/A
1925: 976th most popular. - Brenda Frazier’s high society parents divorce.
1926: 996th most popular.
1927-1928: N/A
1929: 922nd most popular.
1930: 908th most popular.
1931: 836th most popular.
1932: 695th most popular.
1933: 684th most popular.
1934: 651st most popular.
1935: 556th most popular.
1936: 509h most popular.
1937: 423rd most popular.
1938: 241st most popular. - Brenda Frazier’s makes her lavish “debut” into society and it makes the cover of Life magazine.
1939: 86th most popular.
1940: 42nd most popular.
1941: 41st most popular.
1942: 40th most popular.
1943: 35th most popular.
1944: 30th most popular.
1945: 28th most popular.
1946: 24th most popular.
1947: 21st most popular.
1948: 17th most popular.
1949: 13th most popular.
1950: 14th most popular.
1951: 14th most popular.
1952: 15th most popular.
1953: 18th most popular.
1954: 18th most popular.
1955: 18th most popular.
1956: 19th most popular.
1957: 13th most popular.
1958: 16th most popular.
1959: 16th most popular.
1960: 13th most popular.
1961: 11th most popular.
1962: 13th most popular.
1963: 15th most popular.
1964: 18th most popular.
1965: 23rd most popular.
1966: 25th most popular.
1967: 31st most popular.
1968: 34th most popular.
1969: 38th most popular.
1970: 40th most popular.
1971: 43rd most popular.
1972: 44th most popular.
1973: 53rd most popular.
1974: 59th most popular.
1975: 67th most popular.
1976: 77th most popular.
1977: 91st most popular.
1978: 103rd most popular.
1979: 112th most popular.
1980: 116th most popular.
1981: 112th most popular.
1982: 118th most popular.
1983: 120th most popular.
1984: 112th most popular.
1985: 123rd most popular.
1986: 125th most popular.
1987: 128th most popular.
1988: 123rd most popular.
1989: 132nd most popular.
1990: 112th most popular.
1991: 112th most popular.
1992: 108th most popular.
1993: 99th most popular.
1994: 112th most popular.
1995: 119th most popular.
1996: 130th most popular.
1997: 145th most popular.
1998: 149th most popular.
1999: 161st most popular.
2000: 174th most popular.
2001: 192nd most popular.
2002: 216th most popular.
2003: 228th most popular.
2004: 201st most popular.

Selected Sources:
A Dictionary of First Names, Hanks and Hodges, 1990
The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, Withycombe, 1977, 3rd ed.
The Penguin Dictionary of First Names, Pickering, 1999
The Academy of St. Gabriel (www.s-gabriel.org) - For information on medieval names.

The Social Security Administration Actuarial Note 139 (www.ssa.gov) - For popularity stats 1880-Present
The 1880 U.S. Census- For popularity stats 1850-1880, and other information (it is available on-line at www.familysearch.org)