Unisex name · peaked 2008

Bren

A female given name, clipping of Brenda.

Every Bren since 1956 — 736 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex — comparable across eras
00.010.010.0118801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls
Rank 2025
#9,858
among boys
Babies in 2025
7
named Bren
Peak year
2008
27 babies
All-time total
736
since 1956

The story of Bren

Bren is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #9,858 in 2025 with 7 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1956, 736 American babies have been named Bren — about 76% boys and 24% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2008, when 27 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2000s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Bren stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Bren year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 7 #9,858
2024 8 #9,113
2023 8 #9,040
2022 6 #13,896 8 #9,099
2021 6 #13,778 10 #7,683
2020 7 #9,714
2019 12 #6,835
2018 11 #9,265 13 #6,400
2017 7 #12,952 8 #8,962
2016 7 #13,132 11 #7,206
2015 7 #13,242 11 #7,137
2014 7 #9,779
2013 9 #11,167 7 #9,789
2012 8 #8,976
2011 6 #15,154 9 #8,169
2010 5 #17,472 7 #9,835
2009 7 #13,945 11 #7,287
2008 12 #9,582 15 #5,804
2007 10 #10,950 13 #6,315
2006 7 #13,826 6 #10,842
2005 6 #14,791 16 #5,069
2004 7 #12,981 8 #8,233
2003 8 #11,484 16 #4,846
2002 5 #15,816 15 #4,939
2001 6 #13,785 10 #6,514
2000 6 #13,409 6 #9,223
1995 8 #6,470
1990 11 #4,696
1985 14 #3,233
1980 6 #9,219 7 #4,993
1975 6 #4,863
1970 6 #4,290
1965 5 #3,976
1960 9 #2,894
1955
1950
1945
1940
1935
1930
1925
1920
1915
1910
1905
1900
1895
1890
1885
1880

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Bren mean?

A female given name, clipping of Brenda.

How popular is the name Bren in 2025?

Bren ranked #9,858 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 7 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Bren?

736 babies have been named Bren in the United States since 1956, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Bren most popular?

Bren peaked in 2008, when 27 newborns received the name.

Is Bren a boy or girl name?

Bren is used for both: about 24% of babies named Bren have been girls and 76% boys.

Is the name Bren rising or falling?

Bren has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Names like Bren

Compare Bren with similar names →