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At a Glance: Name: Brennan – Meaning: Irish surname with two possible roots: 'descendant of Branán' (little raven) or 'descendant of Braonán' (little drop/moisture) – Origin: Irish – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: BREN-an
Brennan is an Irish surname turned boy's name, pronounced BREN-an, with a classic, worldly feel. You'll often hear that it means 'little raven,' but that's only half the story: it has two equally likely Irish roots, 'descendant of Branán' (little raven) or 'descendant of Braonán' (little drop, or moisture).
Meaning & Origin of Brennan
Meaning: Irish surname with two possible roots: 'descendant of Branán' (little raven) or 'descendant of Braonán' (little drop/moisture).
Origin: Irish.
A common claim: Brennan is commonly said to mean 'little raven.' Actually: Brennan has two equally likely Irish roots: 'descendant of Branán' (little raven) or 'descendant of Braonán' (little drop, or moisture) — not just 'little raven.'
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Brennan
Phonetic: BREN-an IPA: /ˈbrɛnən/
Popularity of Brennan
Brennan peaked at #242 in 2009, when 1,464 babies were given the name. By 2024 it had slipped to #1054 with 207 babies, so it's now far less common than it was at its height.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1916–2024.
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Free printable nursery art for Brennan, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Brennan mean?
Irish surname with two possible roots: ‘descendant of Branán’ (little raven) or ‘descendant of Braonán’ (little drop/moisture). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Brennan)
How do you pronounce Brennan?
Brennan is pronounced BREN-an (IPA: /ˈbrɛnən/).
Is Brennan a popular name right now?
Brennan peaked at #242 in 2009 and is ranked #1054 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1916–2024.)
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