Brigid Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: BREE-jid //ˈbrɪdʒɪd//
Origin: Irish; Latin
Meaning: Irish: exalted one; Latin: strength
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Brigid has its roots in the Old Irish name Brighid, which is derived from the Proto-Celtic *Brigantī, meaning 'the exalted one' or 'the high one.' This name is associated with the goddess Brigid in Celtic mythology, who was revered as a goddess of fertility, healing, poetry, and the forge. The name was later Latinized as Brigida, which entered the English language through various translations and adaptations during the medieval period, particularly influenced by the spread of Christianity in Ireland and the veneration of St.
Brigid of Kildare, a prominent figure in the 5th century known for her piety and miracles. St.
Brigid became one of the most significant saints in Ireland, and her feast day is celebrated on February 1st, coinciding with the ancient festival of Imbolc, marking the beginning of spring. The establishment of her abbey at Kildare in the early 6th century was a pivotal moment in the Christianization of Ireland, and her legacy contributed to the name's enduring presence in Irish culture.
The saint's association with fire and fertility further solidified the name's symbolic resonance, linking it to themes of renewal and protection. Throughout the centuries, the name Brigid has been embraced in various forms across different cultures, often appearing as Brigid, Bridget, or Brighid, each carrying the same underlying significance.
The name's connection to the goddess and the saint has fostered a rich tapestry of folklore and tradition, ensuring its place in both historical and cultural narratives. The name's enduring legacy is reflected in its association with strength, wisdom, and the nurturing aspects of femininity, making it a name of considerable cultural importance.
Famous people named Brigid
In this section, you will find notable people named Brigid. 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 Brigid who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Brigid 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.
Brigid O'Shaughnessy is a character best known for The Maltese Falcon.
Brigid O'Reilly is a character best known for Marvel Comics' Cloak and Dagger.
Brigid O'Connell is a writer best known for her contributions to various literary magazines.
Fictional characters named Brigid
The following list of fictional characters named Brigid 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.
Brigid is a fictional character from the video game series Fire Emblem. She is a skilled archer and a key figure in the story of Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Brigid, 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 Brigid. 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 Brigid was first seen in the United States in 1917.
Brigid has ranked as high as #1151 nationally, which occurred in 2000, and has been most popular in New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, California, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Brigid has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Brigid 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 Brigid was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Brigid (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 |
|---|---|---|
| PA | 6 | |
| VA | 6 |
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 Brigid.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 65 |
| 2023 | 67 |
| 2022 | 56 |
| 2021 | 46 |
| 2020 | 72 |
| 2019 | 77 |
| 2018 | 73 |
| 2017 | 75 |
| 2016 | 79 |
| 2015 | 80 |
| 2014 | 86 |
| 2013 | 75 |
| 2012 | 86 |
| 2011 | 79 |
| 2010 | 82 |
| 2009 | 89 |
| 2008 | 98 |
| 2007 | 91 |
| 2006 | 106 |
| 2005 | 109 |
| 2004 | 118 |
| 2003 | 123 |
| 2002 | 114 |
| 2001 | 129 |
| 2000 | 132 |
| 1999 | 119 |
| 1998 | 116 |
| 1997 | 107 |
| 1996 | 113 |
| 1995 | 97 |
| 1994 | 100 |
| 1993 | 98 |
| 1992 | 89 |
| 1991 | 96 |
| 1990 | 98 |
| 1989 | 87 |
| 1988 | 80 |
| 1987 | 91 |
| 1986 | 73 |
| 1985 | 100 |
| 1984 | 83 |
| 1983 | 83 |
| 1982 | 86 |
| 1981 | 82 |
| 1980 | 87 |
| 1979 | 83 |
| 1978 | 76 |
| 1977 | 74 |
| 1976 | 64 |
| 1975 | 47 |
| 1974 | 60 |
| 1973 | 59 |
| 1972 | 52 |
| 1971 | 67 |
| 1970 | 59 |
| 1969 | 63 |
| 1968 | 89 |
| 1967 | 74 |
| 1966 | 108 |
| 1965 | 117 |
| 1964 | 111 |
| 1963 | 101 |
| 1962 | 107 |
| 1961 | 95 |
| 1960 | 97 |
| 1959 | 94 |
| 1958 | 78 |
| 1957 | 55 |
| 1956 | 51 |
| 1955 | 57 |
| 1954 | 52 |
| 1953 | 41 |
| 1952 | 37 |
| 1951 | 34 |
| 1950 | 27 |
| 1949 | 25 |
| 1948 | 27 |
| 1947 | 25 |
| 1946 | 27 |
| 1945 | 9 |
| 1944 | 12 |
| 1943 | 16 |
| 1942 | 14 |
| 1941 | 6 |
| 1940 | 8 |
| 1939 | 11 |
| 1938 | 10 |
| 1937 | 7 |
| 1936 | 7 |
| 1932 | 7 |
| 1927 | 5 |
| 1917 | 6 |