Male given name
Brian Pronunciation /ˈ b r aɪ . ən Gender Male Origin Word/name Irish;Breton Meaning possibly "high" or "noble" Region of origin Ireland;Brittany Other names Related names Brayan ,Breanna ,Breanne ,Brianna ,Brianne ,Brien ,Brion ,Brina ,Bryan ,Bryant ,Braian
Brian is a masculinegiven name ofIrish andBreton origin,[ 1] surname ofOccitan origin.[ 2] English-speaking world .
History It is possible that the name is derived from anOld Celtic word meaning "high" or "noble".[ 1] bre means "hill"; which could be transferred to mean "eminence" or "exalted one".[ 2] Brian Boru , a 10th-centuryHigh King of Ireland . The name was also quite popular inEast Anglia during theMiddle Ages . This is because the name was introduced to England byBretons following theNorman Conquest .[ 1] Normans in the 12th century, and 'their' name was mingled with the 'Irish' version.[ 2] North West England , the 'Irish' name was introduced by Scandinavian settlers from Ireland. Within theScottish Gaelic -speaking areas of Scotland, the name was at first only used by professional families of Irish origin.[ 1]
It was the fourth most popular male name inEngland and Wales in 1934, but a sharp decline followed over the remainder of the 20th century and by 1994 it had fallen out of the top 100.[ 3]
As a surname The surnameBrian is sometimes an English and Irish variant spelling of the surnameBryan Brian is sometimes derived from the Celtic personal name shown above. The surnameBrian can also sometimes be a French surname; derived from theOld Occitan wordbrian , meaning "maggot " and used as anickname .[ 2]
Variants Variants of the name includeBriant ,Brien ,Bran ,Brion ,Bryan ,Bryant , Brjánn (in Icelandic) andBryon .[ 4] Irish diaspora .[ 5]
Association with social climbers in Latin America In Latin America, the phonetic spelling “Brayan” is often used, associated withworking-class parents withsocial climbing aspirations due to perceived prestige associated of Anglo-American culture. The name is mocked for that reason onsocial media .[ 6] [ 7]
Notable people with the name
Mononyms
Surname
Given name: common combinations
Given name: individuals Brian Adamson , former Australian rules footballerBrian Ah Yat (born 1975), American football playerBrian Alderson (footballer) (1950–1997), Scottish footballerBrian Aldiss (1925–2017), British authorBrian Asamoah (born 2000), American football playerBrian Asawa (1966–2016), Japanese American opera singerBrian Ash (born 1974), American producer and screenwriterBrian Ash (bibliographer) (1936–2010), British writer, scientific journalist, and editorBrian Azzarello (born 1962), American comic book writer and screenwriterBrian Baatzsch (born 1995), German politicianBrian Baig , Trinidad and Tobago politicianBrian Bannister (born 1981), American baseball player and coachBrian Barrett (born 1966), New Zealand former first-class cricketerBrian Barczyk (1969–2024), American YouTuberBrian Bass (born 1982), American former professional baseball playerBrian Beaucage (1947–1991), Canadian gangster, outlaw biker and criminalB. Brian Blair (born 1957), American retired professional wrestler and politicianBrian Blessed (born 1937), English actorBrian Bloom (born 1970), American actor and screenwriterBrian Blose , South African politicianBrian Boitano (born 1963), American figure skaterBrian Bollinger (born 1968), American football playerBrian Bonsall (born 1981), American rock musician, singer, guitarist and former child actorBrian Boobbyer (1928–2011), English rugby union playerBrian Borland , American football coachBrian Boru (941–1014), Irish king who overthrew the centuries-long domination of the Kingship of Ireland by the Uí NéillBrian Bosworth (born 1965), American former football linebacker and actorBrian Bothwell , former professional footballerBrian Bowman (born 1946), American musicianBrian Bowman (politician) (born 1971), Canadian politician, lawyer, and judgeBrian Brain (1940–2023), English cricketerBrian Branch (born 2001), American football playerBrian Brandt , American electrical engineerBrian Brikowski (born 1989), American football defensive end and linebackerBrian Broomell (born 1958), American football playerBrian Budd (born 1952), Canadian professional soccer playerBrian Burrows (born 1988), American sport shooterBrian Patrick Butler , American actor and filmmakerBrian Cant (1933–2017), British actor and children's television presenterBrian Christopher (1972–2018), American professional wrestlerBrian Christopher (lacrosse) (born 1987), All American lacrosse playerBrian Clough (1935–2004), British football managerBrian Colin (born 1956), American video-game designer, artist and animatorBrian Conley (born 1961), English actor, comedian, singer and television presenterBrian Connolly (1945–1997), Scottish singer-songwriter, musician and actorBrian Cornell , American businessmanBrian Cosgrove (born 1934), English animator, designer, director, producer and sculptorBrian Costello (born 1963), American professional wrestlerBrian Cowen (born 1960), formerTaoiseach (Prime Minister) of the Republic of IrelandBrian Crowley (1964–2026), Irish politicianBrian Culbertson (born 1973), American musician and producerBrian Cuthbertson (1936–2023), Canadian historianBrian de la Puente (born 1985), NFL football playerBrian Dabul (born 1984), Argentine tennis playerBrian Dayett (1957–2025), American baseball playerBrian De Palma (born 1940), American film directorBrian Deneke (1978–1997), American teenage punk musicianBrian Dennehy (1938–2020), American actorBrian Devoil (born 1954), British drummerBrian Dietzen (born 1977), American actorBrian Dowling (born 1978), Irish television presenterBrian Dugan (born 1956), American convicted rapist and serial killerBrian Draper (born 1990), one of two perpetrators of theMurder of Cassie Jo Stoddart Brian Eley (1946–2022), British former Chess Champion and fugitiveBrian Eno (born 1948), English electronic musician, music theorist and record producerBrian Enos , American sport shooterBrian Epstein (1934–1967), English businessperson, manager of The BeatlesBrian Fleury , American football coach and former playerBrian Folkerts (born 1990), American football playerBrian Friedman (born 1977), American dancer and choreographerBrian Gaine , American football executiveBrian George (born 1952), British actorBrian Gill, Lord Gill , Lord Justice Clerk of ScotlandBrian Ginsberg (born 1966), American gymnastBrian Glover (1934–1997), English actor and writerBrian Goodman (born 1963), American film director, television director, writer, and actorBrian P. Goodman (1947–2013), Chairperson of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB)Brian Gottfried (born 1952), American tennis playerBrian Gowins (born 1976), American football playerBrian Graden (born 1963), American television executiveBrian Grazer (born 1951), American Oscar-winning film and television producerBrian Gutekunst (born 1973), American football executiveBrian Haley (born 1961), American actor and comedianBrian Haner Sr. (born 1958), American musicianBrian Haner Jr. (born 1981), American guitarist, son of Haner Sr.Brian Hebner , American former professional wrestling refereeBrian Heidik (born 1968), American actor, used car salesman, and television personalityBrian Herbert (born 1947), American authorBrian Holland (born 1941), American songwriter and record producerBrian Horwitz (nicknamed "The Rabbi"; born 1982), American major league baseball outfielderBrian Hutton, Baron Hutton (1932–2020), British law lord and barristerBrian Inglis (1916–1993), Irish journalist, historian, and television presenter, known forAll Our Yesterdays Brian Jeffriess , primary spokesperson for Australia's Southern bluefin tuna fishing and aquaculture industryBrian Michael Jenkins (born 1942), U.S. terrorism expertBrian Joo (born 1981), American-born Korean singer, former member of the R&B duo Fly to the SkyBrian Jossie (born 1977), American professional wrestler performing under the ring name ofAbraham Washington Brian Joubert (born 1984), French figure skater and 2007 World ChampionBrian Kabugi (born 2000), Kenyan actorBrian Kemp (born 1963), American politicianBrian Kendrick (born 1979), American professional wrestlerBrian Kerwin (born 1949), American actorBrian Knobbs (born 1964), American professional wrestlerBrian Krebs (born 1972), American journalist and investigative reporterBrian Lane (RAF officer) (1917–1942), English fighter pilot and flying ace of the Royal Air ForceBrian Lara (born 1969), former West Indian cricketerBrian Lawrance (1909–1983), Australian musicianBrian Laudrup (born 1969), Danish footballerBrian Laundrie (c. 1997–2021 ), American fugitive Brian Leishman , Scottish politicianBrian Levant (born 1952), American filmmakerBrian Lewerke (born 1996), American football playerBrian Limond (born 1974), Scottish comedianBrian Littrell (born 1975), member of the boy band, The Backstreet BoysBrian Maher , American politicianBrian Masse (born 1968), Canadian politicianBrian Matusz (1987–2025), American professional baseball pitcherBrian May (born 1947), guitarist, songwriter, founding member of the band QueenBrian McConaghy (born 1950), Canadian forensic scientistBrian McDermott (murder victim) (born 1970), Irish murder victimBrian McKeever (born 1979), Canadian cross-country skier and biathleteBrian McKnight (born 1969) American singer-songwriter, arranger, producer, and R&B musicianBrian McNamara , American actorBrian Milligan (born 1982/1983), Northern Irish actorBrian David Mitchell (born 1953), American criminal convicted of theKidnapping of Elizabeth Smart Brian Mock (died 1992), American gay man and murder victimBrian Molko (born 1972), lead vocalist of the band PlaceboBrian Moorman (born 1976), American football player for the Buffalo BillsBrian Mullins (1954–2022), Irish Gaelic football player and managerBrian Mullins (hurler) (born 1978), Irish hurlerBrian Mulroney (1939–2024), Prime Minister of Canada from 1984 to 1993Brian Doyle-Murray (born 1945), American actorBrian Murray (actor) (1937–2018), South African actorBrian Mustanski , American psychologistBrian Odom (born 1981), American football coachBrian O'Driscoll (born 1979), Irish rugby playerBrian O'Gallagher , Australian politicianBrian O'Keefe (born 1956), Australian rules footballerBrian O'Keefe (baseball) (born 1993), American baseball playerBrian O'Keeffe , Irish hurlerBrian Olinger (born 1983), American runnerBrian Orser (born 1961), Canadian figure skaterBrian Pattie (born 1975), American auto-racing crew chiefBrian Paddick (born 1958), British politicianBrian Peaker (born 1959), Canadian rowerBrian Peets (born 1956), American football playerBrian Percival , British film directorBrian Piccolo (1943–1970), American football player for the Chicago Bears and subject of TV movieBrian's Song Brian Pillman (1962–1997), American professional wrestler and professional football playerBrian Pillman Jr. (born 1993), American professional wrestlerBrian Quinn (economist) (born 1936), Scottish economist and former football club chairmanBrian Quinn (soccer) (born 1960), Northern Irish-American soccer coach and former playerBrian Randle (born 1985), American basketball playerBrian Ransom (gridiron football) (born 1960), American player of gridiron footballBrian Retterer (born 1972), American swimmerBrian Robbins (born 1963), American media proprietor and film producerBrian Ross (journalist) (born 1948), American investigative correspondent for ABC NewsBrian Savoy (born 1992), Swiss basketball playerBrian Schneider (born 1976), American baseball playerBrian Serven (born 1995), American baseball playerBrian Siemann (born 1989), American wheelchair racerBrian Sims (born 1978), American politician, member of the Pennsylvania House of RepresentativesBrian Skala (born 1981), American actorBrian Snitker (born 1955), American baseball coachBrian P. Stack (born 1966), American politicianBrian Stack (1935/1936–1984), Irish murder victimBrian Stack (born 1964), American actor, comedian and writerBrian Stelter (born 1985), American journalist and television news correspondentBrian Stephney (born 1983), Montserratian cricketerBrian Sweeney (born 1974), American baseball player and coachBrian Sweeney (sailor) , Canadian sailorBrian Teacher (born 1952), American tennis playerBrian Tichy (born 1968), American musicianBrian Tomasik , American researcher and ethicistBrian Thomas (rugby union) (1940–2012), Wales rugby union footballerBrian Thomas (church artist) , British artistBrian Thomas Jr. (born 2002), American football playerBrian Trueman (1932–2024), British broadcaster, writer and voice actorBrian Tochi , American actorBrian Tucker (screenwriter) , American film screenwriterBrian Tyler (born 1972), American composer and musicianBrian Urlacher (born 1978), American football player for the Chicago BearsBrian K. Vaughan (born 1976), American comic book and television writerBrian Viloria (born 1980), American boxerBrian Wallach (born 1980), American businessman and lawyerBrian Warner (born 1969), American singer, better known by his stage nameMarilyn Manson Brian Wecht (born 1975), composer/producer of musical comedy duo,Ninja Sex Party Brian Westbrook (born 1979), American football player for the Philadelphia EaglesBrian Williamson (1945–2004), Jamaican gay rights activistBrian Wilson (1942–2025), American singer-songwriter and co-founder of American rock bandthe Beach Boys Brian Yuzna , American producer, director, and writer
Fictional characters Brian, a character in the American 1983 TV miniseriesV (1983) andV The Final Battle Brian, a character in the American 2001 thriller movieGood Neighbor Brian Baker , a police officer on the HBO dramaThe Wire Brian Cohen , main protagonist ofMonty Python's Life of Brian , played byGraham Chapman Brian Connelly, a character played byBrian Doyle-Murray in the 1988Superman 50th Anniversary movie Brian Cruz (Tag) , a mutant character inMarvel Comics Brian Doheny (commonly referred to as BrianD), main protagonist ofVideo Game High School Brian Fellow, animal enthusiast and main character of Saturday Night Live sketch,Brian Fellow’s Safari Planet Brian Green , from the British TV showTorchwood Brian Griffin onFamily Guy Seth MacFarlane Brian Kinney onQueer as Folk (US)Gale Harold Brian Latham, a character in the 2006 superhero movieLightspeed Brian Johnson, main character in the 1985 filmThe Breakfast Club Brian O'Conner inThe Fast and the Furious seriesPaul Walker Brian Robles, a character in the 2022 Filipino TV series ofMars Ravelo's Darna Brian Stills, a character in the 1981 American science fiction black comedy movieModern Problems Brian Winddancer , a character in theZootopia
Media titles Films and television shows which contain the name Brian include:
See also
References
Native masculine names Native feminine names Germanic-derived Bible-derived Bible-derived Latin/Greek-derived Latin/Greek-derived See also
Name list
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