UK girl's name
Bria
A feminine name of Irish origin meaning "strength, vigor".
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.
Bria is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Bria popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2115, with 13 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 19 births.
This profile covers 302 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 68% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 391 living people in the UK are called Bria. 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
- • Bria ranked #2115 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 13 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 19 girls were registered as Bria.
- • Bria ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #179 in 2024.
- • About 391 living people in the UK are estimated to have Bria as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2115
2024
Births in 2024
13
Latest year
Peak year
1996
19 births
Estimated living
391
2026
Meaning
What does Bria mean?
The name Bria is believed to have its origins in the Gaelic language, with the earliest recorded use dating back to the 5th century. It is derived from the Celtic word "bri," which means "hill" or "exalted one." This suggests that the name may have been associated with people who lived in hilly or elevated regions, or those who held positions of authority or respect within their communities.
In ancient Irish mythology, there is a reference to a character named Bria, who was a warrior princess known for her bravery and strength in battle. While the historical accuracy of this figure is debatable, it provides an early example of the name's existence and its association with traits such as courage and leadership.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Bria was Saint Bria of Munster, who lived in Ireland during the 6th century. She was a nun and abbess who founded several monasteries and was renowned for her piety and religious devotion. Another notable figure was Bria of Cornwall, a noblewoman from the 9th century who played a significant role in the defense of her region against Viking invasions.
During the Middle Ages, the name Bria became more widespread across Europe, particularly in regions with strong Celtic influences. A prominent example is Bria de Aubigny, a Norman noblewoman born in 1090, who was known for her involvement in the Norman conquest of England and her role in the establishment of several monasteries.
In the 16th century, Bria de Laval, a French noblewoman born in 1528, made a name for herself as a patron of the arts and a supporter of the Renaissance movement. She hosted several renowned artists and writers at her court and contributed to the cultural and intellectual development of the time.
As the name Bria spread across different cultures and regions, it has taken on various spellings and adaptations, such as Bree, Bria, and Briah. However, its roots remain firmly grounded in the Gaelic tradition, carrying the essence of strength, leadership, and connection to the natural world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Bria over time
The chart below shows babies named Bria 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 Bria, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 13 births in 2024, compared with 19 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bria by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Bria 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 | #2037 | 69 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2489 | 105 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2725 | 68 | 9 |
| 1990s | #1278 | 60 | 4 |
Geography
Where Bria is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Bria. 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.
Bria ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #179 in 2024.
Across the UK
Bria in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#541 in 2024
8 years of NRS records, 35 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#179 in 2024
9 years of NISRA records, 56 total registered
Related
Names similar to Bria
- 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
Bria: questions and answers
How popular is the name Bria in the UK right now?
In 2024, Bria was ranked #2115 for girls in England and Wales, with 13 births registered.
When was Bria most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 19 babies registered as Bria in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Bria?
A feminine name of Irish origin meaning "strength, vigor".
How many people are called Bria in the UK?
A total of 302 babies have been registered as Bria across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 35 more in Scotland and 56 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Bria most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Bria ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #179 in 2024. 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.