Brennan

At a Glance

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-anListen

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

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.

Names Like Brennan

These names share Brennan’s style, era or origin.

• Aiden
• Brendan
• Brody
• Caden
• Callahan
• Conor

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)

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.)

Make Brennan Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Brennan, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.