Brendan (given name)


Brendan is an Irish masculine given name in the English language. It is derived from the Gaelic name Breandán, which is in turn derived from the earlier Old Irish Brénainn. The Old Welsh breenhin is the root of the name, meaning 'prince' or 'king'. The mediaeval Latin form of the name, Brendanus, has also influenced the modern English and Irish forms. Variant spellings are Brendon and Brenden. In some cases it is possible that the given name Brandon is also a variant of Brendan.

Etymology

The English Brendan is an Anglicised form of the Irish Breandán, in turn derived from the Old Irish Brénainn. This Old Irish personal name is derived from a borrowing of the Old Welsh word breenhín, meaning 'a prince'. Both the English form and the modern Irish form, Breandán, are based upon the mediaeval Latin form Brendanus. According to one old Irish text there are 17 saints with the name. When used in an Irish sentence it can mutate to take the form Bhreandán, for example A Bhreandáin or..do Bhreandán. Variations of the Irish Breandán are Breanndán, Bhreandán and Bhreandáin.
There is no etymological link with the feminine given name Brenda, which is thought to be derived from the Old Norse element brand, meaning ' sword'. In most cases, the masculine given name Brandon, pronounced, is considered to be derived from the surname Brandon, which is in turn derived from two Old English elements.

Variants, cognates

  • English – Brandon, Brendon
  • Irish – Breandán, Breanndán
  • Latin – Brendanus
  • Old Irish – Brénainn

Popularity and use

In some cases, the masculine given name Brennan may be used as a contracted form of Brendan, although it is etymologically unrelated. It is derived from the surname Brennan, an Anglicised form of the Irish Ó Braonáin. The popularity of Brendan in Gaelic-speaking countries is thought to have influenced the use and popularity of the etymologically unrelated feminine name Brenda.
In 2008, the name was not in the top 100 given names for babies in the United States. However, it ranked within the top 100 given names for babies in New England with 2.60 occurrences per 1,000. During the decades spanning 1900-1940 the name wasn't among the top 1,000 given names recorded for babies in the United States. However, in the 1950s it ranked 679; in the 1960s 448; in the 1970s 293; in the 1980s 190; and in the 1990s 133. In recent years in the United States, the name has fallen in the ranking of names for babies. In 2000 it ranked 101; in 2001 115; in 2002 124; in 2003 141; in 2004 149; in 2005 175; in 2006 185; in 2007 205; and in 2008 207.

People named Brendan

Fictional characters named Brendan

People named Breandán