UK boy's name
Brennan
A masculine given name of Irish origin meaning "descendant of the sorrow".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Brennan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Brennan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2921, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 37 births.
This profile covers 534 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 19% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 560 living people in the UK are called Brennan. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Brennan ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2002, when 37 boys were registered as Brennan.
- • Brennan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #703 in 2022.
- • About 560 living people in the UK are estimated to have Brennan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2921
2024
Births in 2024
7
Latest year
Peak year
2002
37 births
Estimated living
560
2026
Meaning
What does Brennan mean?
The name Brennan has its origins in the Gaelic language, specifically in Irish Gaelic. It is derived from the Old Irish word "brennu," which means "a descendant of Bran." Bran is an ancient Celtic name that has been interpreted to mean "raven" or "crow."
The earliest recorded use of the name Brennan dates back to the 5th century AD in Ireland. It was originally a surname that eventually became adopted as a given name. The name was particularly popular among Irish families with connections to the ancient Irish kingdom of Leinster.
In Irish mythology, Bran is a prominent figure. He is featured in the Irish mythological cycle known as the "Fenian Cycle," which contains stories about the legendary hero Finn MacCool and his band of warriors called the Fianna. Bran is depicted as a powerful and wise leader.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Brennan was Saint Brennan of Clonfert, who lived in the 6th century AD. He was an Irish monk and scholar who established numerous monasteries in Ireland and is credited with bringing Christianity to parts of the country.
Another notable historical figure with the name Brennan was Brennan of Armagh, who lived in the 7th century AD. He was a renowned Irish scholar and abbot who helped establish the monastic school at Armagh, which became a significant center of learning in medieval Europe.
In the 12th century, Brennan O'Rourke was a prominent Irish chieftain and military leader who fought against the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland. He was known for his bravery and resistance against the invading forces.
During the 16th century, Brennan Connell was an Irish poet and bard who composed numerous works in the Gaelic tradition. His poems and songs were widely appreciated and helped preserve Irish cultural heritage during a time of colonial oppression.
In more recent history, Brennan Manning (1934-2013) was an American author, theologian, and public speaker. He is best known for his influential book "The Ragamuffin Gospel," which explored the concept of God's unconditional love and grace.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Brennan over time
The chart below shows babies named Brennan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Brennan, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 37 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Brennan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Brennan 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 | #3067 | 31 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1850 | 136 | 10 |
| 2000s | #862 | 269 | 10 |
| 1990s | #681 | 98 | 4 |
Geography
Where Brennan is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Brennan. 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.
Brennan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #703 in 2022.
Across the UK
Brennan in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#703 in 2022
8 years of NRS records, 31 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Brennan
-
Brennan Johnson
association football player
Welsh-English association football player (born 2001)
2001-
Related
Names similar to Brennan
- 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
Brennan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Brennan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Brennan was ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.
When was Brennan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2002, with 37 babies registered as Brennan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Brennan?
A masculine given name of Irish origin meaning "descendant of the sorrow".
How many people are called Brennan in the UK?
A total of 534 babies have been registered as Brennan across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 31 more in Scotland.
Where is Brennan most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Brennan ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #703 in 2022. 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.