UK girl's name
Bruna
A feminine name derived from Latin meaning "dark-complexioned beauty".
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.
Bruna is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Bruna popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3015, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 11 births.
This profile covers 131 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 2002 to 2024. 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.
The latest count is about 73% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 130 living people in the UK are called Bruna. 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
- • Bruna ranked #3015 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 11 girls were registered as Bruna.
- • About 130 living people in the UK are estimated to have Bruna as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3015
2024
Births in 2024
8
Latest year
Peak year
2011
11 births
Estimated living
130
2026
Meaning
What does Bruna mean?
The name Bruna has its roots in the Latin language, originating from the word "bruna," which means "brown" or "dark-haired." This name likely gained popularity during the Roman Empire, when Latin was widely spoken across Europe and the Mediterranean region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bruna can be found in the 9th century, when a Benedictine nun named Bruna of Saxony lived in the Monastery of Gandersheim in present-day Germany. She was known for her religious devotion and her contributions to the monastery's library.
Another notable figure named Bruna was Bruna Gaschi, an Italian painter who lived in the 15th century. She was born in Siena, Italy, and is celebrated for her religious artworks, including frescoes in the Church of San Domenico in her hometown.
In the 16th century, Bruna Parracchi was an Italian poet and author from Pisa. She was part of the literary circle known as the Accademia degli Intronati and wrote several works, including sonnets and madrigals.
During the 17th century, Bruna Casia was a renowned Italian painter from Bologna. She is known for her religious paintings and portraits, and her works can be found in various churches and museums across Italy.
In the 18th century, Bruna Pellegrini was an Italian opera singer and composer. She was born in Venice and performed in several operas throughout Europe, gaining recognition for her vocal talents and compositions.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals named Bruna throughout history, but the name has been used across various cultures and regions, reflecting its enduring popularity and rich heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Bruna over time
The chart below shows babies named Bruna registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 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 Bruna, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 11 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bruna by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Bruna 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 | #4703 | 18 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3824 | 63 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3150 | 50 | 8 |
Related
Names similar to Bruna
- 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
Bruna: questions and answers
How popular is the name Bruna in the UK right now?
In 2024, Bruna was ranked #3015 for girls in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.
When was Bruna most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 11 babies registered as Bruna in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Bruna?
A feminine name derived from Latin meaning "dark-complexioned beauty".
How many people are called Bruna in the UK?
A total of 131 babies have been registered as Bruna across the 22 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.