Bran
Bran, also known as miller's bran, is the component of a cereal grain consisting of the outer hard layers – the combined aleurone and pericarp – surrounding the endosperm. Corn (maize) bran also includes the pedicel. Along with the germ, it is an integral part of whole grains, and is often produced as a byproduct of milling in the production of refined grains.
Meaning & Origin of Bran
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Bran, also known as miller's bran, is the component of a cereal grain consisting of the outer hard layers – the combined aleurone and pericarp – surrounding the endosperm. Corn (maize) bran also includes the pedicel. Along with the germ, it is an integral part of whole grains, and is often produced as a byproduct of milling in the production of refined grains.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Bran
Bran first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1970, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2021, when 14 Brans were born — ranking #6,024 that year. As of 2026, Bran ranks #10,889 for baby boys with 6 births, falling sharply (-41%). In total, more than 232 Brans have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Bran
Phonetically similar names — useful when Bran is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bran
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About the name Bran
Bran is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1970 and has accumulated 232 births in the dataset. Bran's peak popularity came in 2021 when it ranked #6,024. Use the chart and map above to compare Bran's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2021 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "B" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.