Brandon
Boy name · #261 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Brandon? In official American birth records, Brandon has been tracked continuously since 1914, giving it 111 years of documented American history.
Brandon ranks #261 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 1,326 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #83, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,357 boys born in 2025 was named Brandon.
Babies named Brandon per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 111-year story
Brandon first appears in the Social Security records in 1914, when 11 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1992, when 29,628 boys were named Brandon — good for #6 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Brandon against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Brandon in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Brandon is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Brandon is most common
Geography matters for names, and Brandon is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Brandon is most common in AL (1.6 per 1,000), LA (1.5 per 1,000), SC (1.5 per 1,000), GA (1.2 per 1,000), AR (1.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.9 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Brandon is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Brandon
Statistically, parents drawn to Brandon tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Clayton, Justin, Zachary, Bryan, and Johnathan.
ClaytonJustinZacharyBryanJohnathanQuintonMorganJordan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Brandon | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,326 | #261 |
| 2024 | 1,562 | #230 |
| 2023 | 1,665 | #219 |
| 2022 | 1,777 | #210 |
| 2021 | 2,135 | #181 |
| 2020 | 2,312 | #165 |
| 2019 | 2,686 | #141 |
| 2018 | 3,214 | #124 |
| 2017 | 3,497 | #114 |
| 2016 | 4,101 | #99 |
| 2015 | 5,128 | #83 |
| 2014 | 5,856 | #71 |
| 2013 | 6,235 | #70 |
| 2012 | 7,041 | #56 |
| 2011 | 7,821 | #47 |
| 2010 | 8,549 | #44 |
| 2009 | 9,848 | #38 |
| 2008 | 11,482 | #33 |
| 2007 | 12,148 | #31 |
| 2006 | 12,686 | #27 |
| 2005 | 12,947 | #27 |
| 2004 | 14,135 | #22 |
| 2003 | 15,245 | #21 |
| 2002 | 16,282 | #20 |
| 2001 | 17,893 | #18 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Brandon?
In official American birth records, the name Brandon first appeared in 1914 (over 111 years ago), when 11 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 111 years.
Is Brandon a popular boy name?
Brandon ranked #261 among boys in 2025 with 1,326 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #83.
When was the name Brandon most popular?
Brandon peaked in 1992, when 29,628 American boys received the name (ranked #6 that year). Since 1992 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Brandon?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,357 newborn American boys was named Brandon. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.