Brendan

Meaning of Brendan

This name comes from an old Irish word meaning 'prince' or 'king'. It can also be linked to the meaning 'brave' or 'sword'.

Brendan has Irish roots — browse every Irish baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Brendan

After ranking as high as #101 in 2000, Brendan has fallen out of the US top 1,000 as of 2025.

Notable people named Brendan

• Brendan Fraser
  Academy Award-winning actor
• Brendan Gleeson
  Acclaimed Irish actor
• Brendan Rodgers
  Prominent football manager
• Brendan Schaub
  Comedian, podcaster, former MMA fighter
• Brendan Behan
  Influential Irish writer, playwright

More Irish names

Questions about the name Brendan

What does the name Brendan mean?

Brendan means this name comes from an old irish word meaning 'prince' or 'king'. it can also be linked to the meaning 'brave' or 'sword', and it comes from Irish origins.

Is Brendan a boy's or a girl's name?

Brendan is most commonly used as a boy's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Brendan?

Brendan did not appear in the top 1,000 baby names in 2025, which makes it a genuinely uncommon pick.

When was Brendan most popular?

Brendan peaked at #101 in 2000.