NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Branson

An English surname transferred to masculine given name of uncertain meaning.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Branson is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Branson popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4805, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 3 births.

This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2012 to 2012. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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.

Branson is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Branson. 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 2013 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Branson ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales in 2012, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2012, when 3 boys were registered as Branson.
  • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Branson as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4805

2012

Births in 2012

3

Latest year

Peak year

2012

3 births

Estimated living

3

2026

Meaning

What does Branson mean?

The name Branson finds its origins in Old English, tracing back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English words "bran," meaning "brand" or "burn," and "tun," meaning "settlement" or "enclosure." Thus, the name likely referred to a settlement or enclosure near a burned or branded area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Branson appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Branson in the county of Lincolnshire, England.

During the Middle Ages, the name Branson was relatively uncommon but could be found scattered across various regions of England. Notable historical figures with the name include Sir John Branson, a 14th-century English knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War.

In the 16th century, the name gained some prominence with the birth of Thomas Branson (1548-1614), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Whitchurch in Shropshire. His published works included religious treatises and sermons.

Moving into the 17th century, Richard Branson (1615-1675) was an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Winchelsea, a borough in East Sussex, during the reign of Charles II.

Fast-forwarding to the 19th century, Joseph Branson (1819-1898) was a notable English astronomer and mathematician. He made significant contributions to the study of comets and served as the president of the Royal Astronomical Society from 1880 to 1882.

Another notable figure with the name Branson was Sir Geoffrey Branson (1892-1957), a British civil servant who played a crucial role in the establishment of the United Nations. He served as the first president of the United Nations Trusteeship Council from 1946 to 1948.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Branson by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Branson 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
2010s #4805 3 1

Related

Names similar to Branson

FAQ

Branson: questions and answers

How popular is the name Branson in the UK right now?

In 2012, Branson was ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Branson most popular?

The peak year on record was 2012, with 3 babies registered as Branson in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Branson?

An English surname transferred to masculine given name of uncertain meaning.

How many people are called Branson in the UK?

A total of 3 babies have been registered as Branson across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

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.