Brien: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	10	10	1	–	#4,278
1930s	–	18	18	2	+80%	#2,179
1940s	–	123	123	12	+583%	#1,467
1950s	–	478	478	48	+289%	#875
1960s	–	846	846	85	+77%	#767
1970s	–	689	689	69	-19%	#874
1980s	5	601	606	61	-12%	#1,048
1990s	–	461	461	46	-24%	#1,473
2000s	–	245	245	25	-47%	#2,641
2010s	–	92	92	9	-62%	#6,290
2020s (to 2025)	–	25	25	4	-55%	#9,722

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

#4,278

1930s

–

+80%

#2,179

1940s

–

123

+583%

#1,467

1950s

–

478

+289%

#875

1960s

–

846

+77%

#767

1970s

–

689

-19%

#874

1980s

601

606

-12%

#1,048

1990s

–

461

-24%

#1,473

2000s

–

245

-47%

#2,641

2010s

–

-62%

#6,290

2020s (to 2025)

–

-55%

#9,722

The story of Brien

Brien is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #9,864 in 2025 with 7 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1925, 3,593 American babies have been named Brien. Its peak came in 1963, when 99 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

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 Brien stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Brien?

The median living Brien is about 49 years old; half are between 35 and 60. An estimated 3,200 people named Brien are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Brien 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	#9,864
2024	–	–	6	#11,152
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	5	#12,427
2020	–	–	7	#9,722
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	–	–	11	#7,194
2017	–	–	12	#6,746
2016	–	–	7	#9,820
2015	–	–	9	#8,134
2014	–	–	6	#10,913
2013	–	–	13	#6,290
2012	–	–	13	#6,363
2011	–	–	9	#8,170
2010	–	–	12	#6,740
2009	–	–	13	#6,483
2008	–	–	11	#7,264
2007	–	–	23	#4,255
2006	–	–	24	#4,014
2005	–	–	27	#3,539
2004	–	–	23	#3,875
2003	–	–	33	#2,932
2002	–	–	36	#2,641
2001	–	–	25	#3,425
2000	–	–	30	#2,925
1995	–	–	48	#1,803
1990	–	–	52	#1,589
1985	–	–	68	#1,126
1980	–	–	74	#1,048
1975	–	–	68	#995
1970	–	–	84	#881
1965	–	–	70	#874
1960	–	–	71	#898
1955	–	–	41	#1,171
1950	–	–	27	#1,400
1945	–	–	13	#1,939
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	–	–	5	#4,280
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Brien, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Brien?

The median living Brien is about 49 years old. Half of all living Briens are between 35 and 60 years old.

How many people named Brien are alive today?

An estimated 3,200 people named Brien are alive in the United States, based on 3,593 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Brien in 2025?

Brien ranked #9,864 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 Brien?

3,593 babies have been named Brien in the United States since 1925, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Brien most popular?

Brien peaked in 1963, when 99 newborns received the name.

Is Brien a boy or girl name?

Brien is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Brien rising or falling?

Brien is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Brien

Brien popularity over time

The story of Brien

How old are people named Brien?

Brien year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Brien