Bryan
Boy name · #336 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Bryan? In official American birth records, Bryan has been tracked continuously since 1883, giving it 142 years of documented American history.
Bryan is currently the #336 boy name in the United States — 1,005 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #166, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,791 boys born in 2025 was named Bryan.
Babies named Bryan per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 142-year story
Bryan first appears in the Social Security records in 1883, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1985, when 8,717 boys were named Bryan — good for #48 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 Bryan against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Bryan in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Bryan 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 Bryan is most common
Geography matters for names, and Bryan is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Bryan is most common in MA (2.5 per 1,000), FL (1.4 per 1,000), NV (1.1 per 1,000), NJ (1 per 1,000), CT (1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.7 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Bryan is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Bryan
Statistically, parents drawn to Bryan tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Brian, Ryan, Sean, Ruben, and Bradley.
BrianRyanSeanRubenBradleyBrandonMarioDerek
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Bryan | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,005 | #336 |
| 2024 | 1,105 | #307 |
| 2023 | 1,082 | #305 |
| 2022 | 1,172 | #291 |
| 2021 | 1,211 | #285 |
| 2020 | 1,359 | #259 |
| 2019 | 1,425 | #255 |
| 2018 | 1,641 | #233 |
| 2017 | 1,840 | #211 |
| 2016 | 2,130 | #186 |
| 2015 | 2,492 | #166 |
| 2014 | 2,731 | #149 |
| 2013 | 2,893 | #133 |
| 2012 | 3,083 | #121 |
| 2011 | 3,521 | #110 |
| 2010 | 3,938 | #97 |
| 2009 | 4,856 | #92 |
| 2008 | 5,505 | #82 |
| 2007 | 6,180 | #78 |
| 2006 | 6,699 | #66 |
| 2005 | 6,454 | #72 |
| 2004 | 6,732 | #65 |
| 2003 | 6,619 | #64 |
| 2002 | 6,617 | #64 |
| 2001 | 6,125 | #69 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Bryan?
In official American birth records, the name Bryan first appeared in 1883 (over 142 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Bryan a popular boy name?
Bryan ranked #336 among boys in 2025 with 1,005 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #166.
When was the name Bryan most popular?
Bryan peaked in 1985, when 8,717 American boys received the name (ranked #48 that year). Since 1985 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Bryan?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,791 newborn American boys was named Bryan. 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.