ESC 

Name Rank Total 

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1970

First Year

2024

Last Year

2021

Peak Year

#6024

Peak Rank

232

Total Count

30

Years Active

🌍

## 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 ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bran) (CC BY-SA 3.0). [Read more → ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bran)

[![Wikipedia thumbnail for Bran](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Wheat_bran_structure.gif/330px-Wheat_bran_structure.gif)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bran)

📖

## 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

ME

WA

MT

ND

MN

WI

MI

NY

VT

NH

MA

OR

ID

SD

IA

IL

IN

OH

PA

NJ

CT

RI

CA

NV

WY

NE

MO

KY

WV

VA

MD

DE

DC

UT

CO

KS

AR

TN

NC

SC

AK

AZ

NM

OK

LA

MS

AL

GA

HI

TX

FL

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

🎶

## 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. 

* [Brann](/brann)
* [Brain](/brain)
* [Brown](/brown)
* Brawn
* Brine
* [Bron](/bron)
* [Braun](/braun)
* Brun
* [Brin](/brin)
* [Bren](/bren)
* Bruhn
* Brane

Source: [Datamuse ](https://www.datamuse.com/api/). Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated. 

❓

## Frequently Asked Questions about Bran

What does the name Bran mean?

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.

How popular is Bran in 2026?

In 2026, Bran ranks #10,889 among boys' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.

When was Bran most popular?

Bran reached its peak popularity in 2021, ranking #6,024 that year with 14 babies given the name.

Is Bran a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Bran is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Bran?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Bran include Nobel, Dierre, Clayson. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

## Similar Names

[👦NobelPeak #6024](/nobel)[👦DierrePeak #6024](/dierre)[👦ClaysonPeak #6024](/clayson)[👦AkeelPeak #6024](/akeel)[👦SianPeak #6024](/sian)[👦KilanPeak #6024](/kilan)[👦KyrionPeak #6024](/kyrion)[👦SarielPeak #6024](/sariel)

## 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 → ](/year/2021)
* [ Names of the 2020s → ](/decade/2020s)
* [ Names starting with "B" → ](/letter/b)
* [ Browse all boy names → ](/names/boys)
* [ Top names of 2026 → ](/year/2026)

Data sources

* Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. [Social Security Administration ](https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/). 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 ](https://www.behindthename.com/) (used under their public API terms).
* Meaning prose and editorial summary — [Wikipedia ](https://en.wikipedia.org/) article extracts, licensed under [CC BY-SA 3.0 ](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/).
* Predicted nationality distribution — [Nationalize.io ](https://nationalize.io/).
* Phonetically similar names — [Datamuse ](https://www.datamuse.com/api/).

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.