Brian
Meaning of Brian
Brian strolls in from the emerald hills of Ireland, his name springing from the old Gaelic brígh—“strength,” “nobility,” even “a high hill” if you squint at the poetry—so he’s literally on higher ground from day one. Carried into legend by the warrior-king Brian Boru, who booted Vikings out of Ireland in 1014, the name later sailed across the Atlantic, catching the American breeze and climbing into the U.S. Top 10 during the bell-bottomed 1970s. Today Brian ranks in the 200s, but like a well-loved leather jacket, he never really goes out of style. Pop culture keeps him current—think Beach Boy Brian Wilson’s sun-soaked harmonies, Queen guitarist Brian May’s electric riffs, or the quick-witted pooch on Family Guy—so the name balances everyday friendliness with a quietly heroic backstory. For parents, Brian offers an easy, familiar sound (BRY-ən), a dash of Celtic romance, and the reassuring sense that their little guy will have the strength to climb any hill life sets in front of him.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as BRY-an (/bʀaɪ.ən/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Brian
| Brian Wilson was an American musician and Beach Boys cofounder renowned for innovative, polished production, complex harmonies and vocal layering, introspective themes, and a versatile head voice and falsetto. |
| Sir Brian May is an English musician, animal welfare advocate, and astrophysicist best known as Queen cofounder and lead guitarist whose songs and guitar work helped make the band a global success. |
| Brian Clough was an English footballer turned iconic manager who led Derby County and Nottingham Forest to historic success, won the league with two clubs, and is often called the greatest England manager who never was. |
| Brian Boru, High King of Ireland from 1002 to 1014, broke Ui Neill dominance, helped end Viking raids, united much of the island, and founded the O'Brien dynasty. |
| Brian Lenihan Jnr - Brian Joseph Lenihan was an Irish Fianna Fail politician who served as Minister for Finance from 2008 to 2011, earlier as Minister for Justice and Minister of State for Children, and was TD for Dublin West from 1996 until his death in 2011. |
| Brian Dawkins, known as Weapon X, is a former NFL safety who played 16 seasons mostly with the Philadelphia Eagles after starring at Clemson and finished his career with the Denver Broncos. |
| Brian Wilson is an American former MLB relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers, renowned for his big black beard and crowd pleasing Jump Around entrance. |
| Danish former footballer Brian Laudrup, who played in attack and midfield, is now a Viaplay pundit, runs a football academy for marginalised youth, and is the son of Finn and younger brother of Michael Laudrup. |
| Brian K. Vaughan is an American comic book and television writer best known for Y The Last Man, Ex Machina, Runaways, Pride of Baghdad, Saga and Paper Girls. |
| Brian William Pillman was an American professional wrestler and former football player best known for Stampede Wrestling in the 1980s and for WCW, ECW, and WWF in the 1990s. |
| Brian Vickers is an American former stock and sports car racer, the 2003 NASCAR Busch Series champion who later filled in for Tony Stewart at Stewart Haas Racing and was among the first full time Toyota drivers in the Cup Series. |
| Brian Tarquin is an American jazz fusion guitarist and Emmy winning composer known for smooth jazz and guitar instrumental chart hits, owning BHP Music Guitar Trax Records and Jungle Room Studios, and working with artists like Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson. |
| Brian Cox is an English physicist and musician, a University of Manchester particle physics professor and Royal Society public engagement champion, known for BBC science programs like The Infinite Monkey Cage and the Wonders series as well as popular science books. |
| Brian Johnson is an English singer and songwriter who became the third lead singer of the Australian rock band AC DC in 1980 after the death of Bon Scott. |
| English actor Brian Blessed, famed for his booming voice and exuberant presence, appeared in Z Cars, I Claudius, Flash Gordon, Blackadder, Cats, Henry V, Star Wars The Phantom Menace, and Disney's Tarzan. |
