Brett Boy

Popularity: #805 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: Bret /brɛt/

Origin: English; Irish

Meaning: English: dweller by the bridge; Irish: descendant of Breá

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Brett has its origins in the Old Breton name "Bret," which means "a Breton" or "from Brittany." The term "Breton" itself is derived from the Latin "Britannus," referring to the Celtic people of Britain. The name entered the English language through Norman influence after the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, where it was adopted as a surname before evolving into a given name.

The transition from a geographical identifier to a personal name reflects the broader practice of using place names as surnames in medieval England. Historically, the name Brett has been associated with various notable figures, particularly during the medieval period.

One significant milestone is its use in the context of the Anglo-Norman nobility, where individuals bearing the name were often linked to the regions of Brittany and its historical ties to England. The name appears in various records from the 12th century onward, indicating its adoption among the English gentry.

Additionally, the name has been borne by several saints and religious figures, contributing to its enduring presence in Christian contexts. Culturally, Brett has been associated with notions of bravery and strength, likely stemming from its connections to the Celtic heritage of the Bretons.

The name's resonance can also be seen in literature and art, where characters named Brett often embody qualities of resilience and loyalty. A diminutive form, "Brettie," has occasionally been used, although it is less common.

Overall, the name Brett carries a rich historical and cultural significance, reflecting its roots in the Celtic and Norman traditions.

Famous people named Brett

In this section, you will find notable people named Brett. 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 Brett who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Brett 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.

Brett Kavanaugh is a lawyer and jurist best known for serving as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States and for his previous role as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Brett Ratner is a film director and producer best known for directing Rush Hour, X-Men: The Last Stand, and Hercules.

Brett Eldredge is a country music singer and songwriter best known for his hits such as.

Fictional characters named Brett

The following list of fictional characters named Brett 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.

Brett is a fictional character from the film The Last House on the Left. He is a member of a group of criminals who terrorize a family in their home.

Sibling suggestions

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

BrentBrockBlakeBryceBradBlaine

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Brett. 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.

BrettanBrentBrockBlakeBradBryceBlaineBlaiseBriarBrendan

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Brett was first seen in the United States in 1926.

Brett has ranked as high as #131 nationally, which occurred in 1986, and has been most popular in California, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Brett 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 Brett was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

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 Brett.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 144 133 11
2024 222 207 15
2023 199 187 12
2022 237 216 21
2021 221 201 20
2020 258 241 17
2019 283 275 8
2018 300 288 12
2017 331 315 16
2016 355 333 22
2015 329 324 5
2014 403 386 17
2013 370 360 10
2012 446 427 19
2011 522 510 12
2010 748 729 19
2009 780 766 14
2008 1,098 1,070 28
2007 976 958 18
2006 1,098 1,082 16
2005 1,417 1,389 28
2004 1,606 1,565 41
2003 1,646 1,614 32
2002 1,891 1,868 23
2001 2,001 1,964 37
2000 2,424 2,383 41
1999 2,829 2,773 56
1998 2,955 2,886 69
1997 3,336 3,268 68
1996 3,668 3,577 91
1995 3,684 3,567 117
1994 3,543 3,435 108
1993 3,600 3,546 54
1992 3,888 3,823 65
1991 4,224 4,153 71
1990 4,472 4,394 78
1989 4,550 4,428 122
1988 4,473 4,375 98
1987 4,556 4,429 127
1986 4,904 4,729 175
1985 4,423 4,328 95
1984 4,173 4,096 77
1983 4,060 3,975 85
1982 4,142 4,026 116
1981 3,851 3,775 76
1980 3,207 3,128 79
1979 3,070 2,997 73
1978 2,374 2,305 69
1977 2,567 2,489 78
1976 2,500 2,415 85
1975 2,845 2,779 66
1974 2,756 2,677 79
1973 3,088 3,030 58
1972 3,562 3,503 59
1971 3,403 3,357 46
1970 3,415 3,370 45
1969 3,228 3,183 45
1968 2,930 2,901 29
1967 2,819 2,790 29
1966 2,606 2,575 31
1965 2,371 2,342 29
1964 2,588 2,551 37
1963 2,646 2,610 36
1962 2,519 2,494 25
1961 2,084 2,069 15
1960 2,340 2,320 20
1959 2,244 2,226 18
1958 2,158 2,135 23
1957 670 653 17
1956 399 393 6
1955 471 464 7
1954 437 430 7
1953 273 265 8
1952 260 251 9
1951 230 223 7
1950 222 215 7
1949 139 139 0
1948 140 140 0
1947 94 94 0
1946 48 48 0
1945 26 26 0
1944 18 18 0
1943 25 25 0
1942 25 25 0
1941 18 18 0
1940 14 14 0
1939 10 10 0
1938 8 8 0
1937 5 5 0
1935 5 5 0
1934 5 5 0
1932 5 5 0
1929 5 5 0
1926 5 5 0

Top States for Brett (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 16
11%
CA 15
11%
NC 14
10%
MO 11
8%
NY 11
8%
FL 11
8%
PA 10
7%
OH 9
6%
IL 8
6%
NJ 8
6%
GA 8
6%
TN 6
4%
WI 5
4%
AL 5
4%
OK 5
4%