Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Brianna
GirlIrish· “feminine of Brian”
- Meaning
- feminine of Brian
- Origin
- Irish
- Pronunciation
- bree-AN-uh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #222
- US babies 2025
- 1,372
- Best rank
- #14 (1999)
- Peak year
- 2000
Meaning and origin of Brianna
Brianna is an Irish name that is usually said to mean “feminine of Brian”.
Brianna is a feminine form of Brian, an Irish name often linked to an Old Irish word meaning high or noble, though its origin is not fully certain. Brian Boru, a king of Ireland in the early eleventh century, made the masculine name famous. A feminine form, Briana, appears in Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene, but Brianna became widespread only in modern times, especially in the United States. It has a bright, rhythmic sound and a friendly feel. Bree and Bri are common nicknames, and Breanna and Briana are alternative spellings.
Other spellings with the same sound: Briana.
Popularity over time
Brianna first appears in US Social Security records in 1963. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 50 different years, starting in 1976. Its best national rank was #14 in 1999, and the most babies received it in 2000, when 12,880 were named Brianna. In 2025, 1,372 babies were named Brianna, and it ranked #222 nationally. That is 60% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #341 in 1980, #15 in 2000, #30 in 2010, and #222 in 2025. Of the 264,799 US girls named Brianna since records began, 38% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 99,108 babies. Since 2010, 47,039 more have been named Brianna.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Alyssa, Sydney, Destiny, Haley, and Julia.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Brianna ranked highest in Delaware, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | #124 | 7 |
| New Jersey | #126 | 62 |
| Massachusetts | #127 | 42 |
| Maryland | #131 | 35 |
| Florida | #135 | 133 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Brianna is usually pronounced bree-AN-uh, with three syllables. It has seven letters, starts with B and ends in “-na”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Briana.
Middle names for Brianna
A few middle names that flow with Brianna: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Brianna
Similar names
Mckenna Girl
muh-KEN-uh
“son of Cionaodh” · Irish
#410
Fiona Girl
fee-OH-nuh
“fair, white” · Scottish
#470
Makenna Girl
muh-KEN-uh
“son of Cionaodh” · Irish
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Alanna Girl
uh-LAN-uh
“uncertain; feminine of Alan” · Irish
#280
Athena Girl
uh-THEE-nuh
Greek
#109
Ximena Girl
hee-MEH-nuh
“possibly from Simon, 'he has heard'” · Spanish
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Alana Girl
uh-LAN-uh
“feminine form of Alan” · Breton
#140
Alina Girl
uh-LEE-nuh
“short form of Adelina, 'noble'” · Germanic
#130
Alaina Girl
uh-LAY-nuh
“feminine form of Alan” · Breton
#224
Julianna Girl
joo-lee-AN-uh
“from Julius, possibly 'youthful'” · Latin
#398
Elliana Girl
el-ee-AH-nuh
“my God has answered” · Hebrew
#139
Alayna Girl
uh-LAY-nuh
“modern spelling of Alaina” · American (modern coinage)
#332
Lists that include Brianna
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Brianna mean?
Brianna is an Irish name that is usually said to mean “feminine of Brian”.
What is the origin of the name Brianna?
Brianna has Irish roots. Brianna is a feminine form of Brian, an Irish name often linked to an Old Irish word meaning high or noble, though its origin is not fully certain.
Is Brianna a popular name?
Yes. Brianna ranked #222 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Brianna a boy or girl name?
Brianna is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Brianna?
Brianna is usually pronounced bree-AN-uh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings