Brandon Boy

Popularity: #219 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: BRAN-dən //ˈbrændən//

Origin: English; Irish

Meaning: English: 'Broom hill'; Irish: 'Descendant of Brán'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Brandon has its roots in Old English, deriving from the elements "brom" meaning "broom" and "dun" meaning "hill" or "fortress." The earliest forms of the name can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period, where it appeared as "Brandon" or "Brandonne." This name likely referred to a location characterized by broom plants growing on a hill, and it was used as a surname before evolving into a given name. The transition into English usage occurred as the language developed through the Norman Conquest and the subsequent blending of Old English with Norman French influences, which enriched the lexicon and naming conventions of the time.

Historically, the name Brandon has been associated with several notable figures and places. One significant milestone is the use of the name in the 12th century, when it was recorded in various forms in England, often linked to geographical locations such as Brandon in Suffolk.

The name also appears in the context of English nobility, with several historical figures bearing the name, including Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, who was a prominent figure during the Tudor period in the 16th century. Additionally, the name has biblical connections through the use of similar-sounding names in translations of the Bible, although it does not appear directly in canonical texts.

Culturally, Brandon has resonated through various traditions and literary works, often symbolizing strength and resilience due to its etymological roots. The name has been embraced in various forms of art and literature, reflecting themes of nobility and valor.

In some contexts, diminutive forms such as "Bran" have emerged, further enriching the name's cultural tapestry. Overall, Brandon's historical significance and linguistic heritage contribute to its enduring presence in English-speaking cultures.

Famous people named Brandon

In this section, you will find notable people named Brandon. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Brandon who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Brandon who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Brandon Lee was an actor best known for The Crow, Rapid Fire, and Showdown in Little Tokyo.

Brandon Sanderson is an author best known for Mistborn, The Stormlight Archive, and Elantris.

Brandon Tanev is a professional ice hockey player best known for playing with the Seattle Kraken and Winnipeg Jets.

Brandon Ingram is a professional basketball player best known for playing with the New Orleans Pelicans and being an NBA All-Star.

Brandon Marshall is a former professional football player best known for playing with the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears.

Fictional characters named Brandon

The following list of fictional characters named Brandon is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Brandon Stark is a fictional character from the book series A Song of Ice and Fire and its television adaptation Game of Thrones. He is a key figure in the Stark family, known for his tragic fate and the impact it has on the overarching narrative.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Brandon, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Brandon. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Brandon was first seen in the United States in 1914.

Brandon has ranked as high as #8 nationally, which occurred in 1992, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Florida, and Ohio.

In the past 5 years the name Brandon has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Brandon is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Brandon was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Brandon (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
TX 212
14%
CA 202
14%
FL 122
8%
NY 84
6%
GA 66
5%
TN 49
3%
OH 45
3%
MI 45
3%
IL 45
3%
VA 40
3%
AL 39
3%
LA 39
3%
NC 38
3%
AZ 36
2%
SC 36
2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Brandon.

YearBirths
20241,553
20231,664
20221,774
20212,134
20202,312
20192,685
20183,210
20173,497
20164,101
20155,126
20145,856
20136,234
20127,039
20117,820
20108,548
20099,847
200811,481
200712,145
200612,686
200512,946
200414,135
200315,245
200216,281
200117,892
200020,337
199921,602
199823,830
199725,196
199625,847
199526,904
199429,490
199328,735
199229,627
199126,022
199022,162
198923,310
198823,744
198724,823
198627,253
198529,307
198425,671
198323,516
198220,215
198120,205
198014,162
197911,302
19789,241
19778,272
19767,790
19757,089
19745,859
19735,066
19724,625
19713,262
19702,544
19691,107
1968759
1967483
1966397
1965395
1964304
1963259
1962194
1961193
1960186
1959186
1958132
1957131
1956168
1955104
1954162
1953113
195276
195150
195054
194942
194835
194731
19469
194510
194418
194317
194210
194110
194010
19387
19377
193612
19359
19346
193312
19329
193112
193012
192913
19289
192717
192617
19259
192412
192316
192214
19219
19209
191911
191815
19179
191616
191512
191411