The story behind Brian
Borrowed from Irish Brian. Doublet of Brendan.
Other language forms and explanations (2)
French entry
Via English Brian from Irish Brian, ultimately from Breton Brien.
Spanish entry
From English Brian, from Irish Brian.
Pronunciation
Canada, UK, US: /ˈbɹaɪ.ən/
Regional pronunciation variants
- French: /bʁa.jan/
- Spanish: /ˈbɾajan/
- Spanish: [ˈbɾa.jãn]
Popularity
Brian ranked #339 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Brian
Brjánn
From Old Norse Brjánn (referring to the Irish king Brian Boru), from Irish Brian.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Bryan
A male given name from Irish, a less common alternative spelling of Brian.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Bryon
A male given name from Irish, a nonstandard spelling of Brian.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Finn
An Old and Middle Irish form of Fionn.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Kian
A male given name from Irish, anglicized spelling of Cian.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Sean
Anglicised form of Irish Seán, from Old French Jehan, from Latin Johannes, variant of Ioannes, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννης (Iōánnēs), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָן (Yōḥānān, literally “God…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Brian
Aidano
From English Aidan, from Irish Aodhán.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Aileen
A female given name from Irish, variant of Eileen.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Aislinn
Borrowed from Irish Aisling.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Brian
Aidano
From English Aidan, from Irish Aodhán.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aoife
Borrowed from Irish Aoife. The name is unrelated to the Biblical name Eva, which was rendered as Éabha in Irish. However, due to the lack of a more precise alternative familiar…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Ava
A female given name from Hebrew, a variant of Eva.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length