UK girl's name
Brenna
A feminine given name of Irish origin meaning "brow" or "freckled".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Brenna is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Brenna popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5591, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 23 births.
This profile covers 135 England and Wales registrations across 19 recorded years from 1996 to 2019. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 13% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 200 living people in the UK are called Brenna. 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 2020 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Brenna ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 23 girls were registered as Brenna.
- • Brenna ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #434 in 2018.
- • About 200 living people in the UK are estimated to have Brenna as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5591
2019
Births in 2019
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
23 births
Estimated living
200
2026
Meaning
What does Brenna mean?
The given name Brenna has its origins in the Celtic languages of ancient Britain and Ireland. It is derived from the Old Celtic word "brenhin," meaning "king" or "prince." This name was particularly popular among the ancient Britons and was often bestowed upon those of noble or royal lineage.
During the Middle Ages, the name Brenna was commonly found in various regions of Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. It was sometimes spelled as "Brenna," "Brynna," or "Brenna," reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Brenna can be found in the ancient Welsh text known as the "Mabinogion," a collection of medieval Welsh prose stories and myths. In this text, Brenna is mentioned as the name of a character, though little is known about the individual's historical significance.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Brenna. One of the most famous was Brenna of Galloway (c. 1020-1090), a Scottish princess and the daughter of Gille Brigte, Earl of Galloway. She is remembered for her role in the political struggles of her time and her efforts to protect her family's lands and interests.
Another notable Brenna was Brenna of Leinster (c. 1150-1225), an Irish noblewoman and the daughter of Dermot MacMurrough, King of Leinster. She played a significant role in the Norman invasion of Ireland and was known for her strategic alliances and political acumen.
In the 13th century, Brenna de Montfort (c. 1205-1252) was a French noblewoman and the wife of Simon de Montfort, a prominent leader in the Barons' War against King Henry III of England. She was renowned for her courage and resilience during the struggles of that period.
Another notable figure was Brenna of Strathclyde (c. 1280-1350), a Scottish princess and the daughter of the Lord of Strathclyde. She is recorded in historical documents as having played a crucial role in the negotiations between Scotland and England during the Wars of Scottish Independence.
In the 16th century, Brenna O'Brien (c. 1545-1610) was an Irish chieftain and the daughter of Conor O'Brien, Earl of Thomond. She was known for her leadership skills and her efforts to protect her clan's lands and traditions during a tumultuous period in Irish history.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Brenna, a name with deep roots in the Celtic cultures of ancient Britain and Ireland.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Brenna over time
The chart below shows babies named Brenna registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Brenna, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 23 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Brenna by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Brenna 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 | #5060 | 19 | 5 |
| 2000s | #3296 | 57 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1420 | 59 | 4 |
Geography
Where Brenna is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Brenna. 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.
Brenna ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #434 in 2018.
Across the UK
Brenna in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#552 in 2007
8 years of NRS records, 31 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#434 in 2018
9 years of NISRA records, 35 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Brenna
-
Brenna McPartlan
association football player
Northern Irish association football player
1999-
Related
Names similar to Brenna
- Bethany 43,226
- Brooke 18,370
- Bella 14,112
- Bonnie 12,149
- Beatrice 11,306
- Bethan 7,968
- Beth 6,440
- Betsy 5,065
- Beatrix 4,317
- Billie 4,220
- Beau 3,231
- Bryony 3,167
FAQ
Brenna: questions and answers
How popular is the name Brenna in the UK right now?
In 2019, Brenna was ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Brenna most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 23 babies registered as Brenna in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Brenna?
A feminine given name of Irish origin meaning "brow" or "freckled".
How many people are called Brenna in the UK?
A total of 135 babies have been registered as Brenna across the 19 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 31 more in Scotland and 35 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Brenna most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Brenna ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #434 in 2018. 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.