UK boy's name
Branden
Of Germanic origin, meaning "burn" - from the Old Norse brandr.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Branden is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Branden popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 39 births.
This profile covers 453 England and Wales registrations across 25 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 8% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 469 living people in the UK are called Branden. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Branden ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2000, when 39 boys were registered as Branden.
- • Branden ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #378 in 2007.
- • About 469 living people in the UK are estimated to have Branden as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4991
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2000
39 births
Estimated living
469
2026
Meaning
What does Branden mean?
The name Branden has its origins in the Old English language, with roots dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English words "bran" and "dun," which together mean "fiery hill" or "hill by the fire." This name likely originated in areas of England where there were significant Anglo-Saxon settlements or communities.
While the name Branden does not appear to be directly referenced in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it may have been used as a given name among Anglo-Saxon populations during the medieval period. The earliest recorded examples of the name Branden date back to the 12th and 13th centuries in various English historical records and documents.
One of the earliest known individuals to bear the name Branden was Branden of Wycliffe, an English ecclesiastical figure who lived in the late 13th century. He served as the Rector of Wycliffe, a village in the North Riding of Yorkshire, England.
Another notable historical figure with the name Branden was Branden Browne, an English composer and organist who lived from around 1550 to 1622. He was a musician in the court of King James I of England and is known for his contributions to the development of English church music during the Renaissance period.
In the 19th century, Branden Mathews was an American writer and critic who lived from 1865 to 1939. He was a prominent literary figure and contributed to the growth of American literature through his writings and critiques.
Branden Joseph Saunders, born in 1825 and died in 1909, was a British architect and engineer. He is known for his work on various public buildings and infrastructure projects in London and other parts of England during the Victorian era.
Branden Sanderson, an American author and academic who lived from 1979 to 2013, was a renowned fantasy and science fiction writer. His works, including the Mistborn series and The Stormlight Archive, have gained widespread popularity and critical acclaim.
It is important to note that while these are some historical examples of individuals with the name Branden, the name's usage and popularity have likely evolved over time, and its prevalence may have varied across different regions and cultures.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Branden over time
The chart below shows babies named Branden registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Branden, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 39 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Branden by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Branden was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4496 | 7 | 2 |
| 2010s | #3178 | 68 | 9 |
| 2000s | #867 | 274 | 10 |
| 1990s | #663 | 104 | 4 |
Geography
Where Branden is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Branden. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Branden ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #378 in 2007.
Across the UK
Branden in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#378 in 2007
4 years of NRS records, 20 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Branden
-
Branden Horton
association football player
English association football player (born 2000)
2000-
Related
Names similar to Branden
- Benjamin 90,412
- Ben 36,356
- Bradley 30,230
- Brandon 26,411
- Billy 18,608
- Bobby 16,904
- Blake 16,337
- Bailey 16,014
- Brody 7,230
- Beau 6,722
- Barnaby 5,284
- Brodie 4,801
FAQ
Branden: questions and answers
How popular is the name Branden in the UK right now?
In 2023, Branden was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Branden most popular?
The peak year on record was 2000, with 39 babies registered as Branden in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Branden?
Of Germanic origin, meaning "burn" - from the Old Norse brandr.
How many people are called Branden in the UK?
A total of 453 babies have been registered as Branden across the 25 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 20 more in Scotland.
Where is Branden most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Branden ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #378 in 2007. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.