NameCensus.
Very Rare

Brysan

A name derived from Bryan, meaning "strong, virtuous, and honourable".

Name Census estimates that about 150 living Americans carry the first name Brysan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Brysan today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Brysan births was 2011 (14 babies).

This page is the full Name Census profile for Brysan. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.

People living today

150

~ 1 in 2,285,029 Americans

Peak year

2011

14 babies that year

Average age

13

years old

2024 SSA rank

#11,117

Tracked since 2004

Popularity

Brysan: popularity over time

The SSA tracks Brysan from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 97 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.

Babies born per year

04711142005201020152020

Decades

Brysan by decade

The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Brysan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.

DecadeMaleFemaleTotal
2000s41041
2010s97097
2020s13013

Origin

Meaning and history of Brysan

The given name Brysan is believed to have originated from the Welsh language, with its roots tracing back to the early medieval period in the region known as Wales. The name is thought to be derived from the Welsh words "brys," meaning "swift" or "quick," and "ant," which translates to "stream" or "brook." This combination suggests that Brysan may have initially referred to a fast-flowing stream or a person who lived near such a body of water.

While the exact origin and meaning of the name Brysan are not entirely certain, there are several historical references that shed light on its usage. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the ancient Welsh manuscript known as the "Black Book of Carmarthen," dated around the 13th century. This manuscript contains a collection of poems and stories that reference various Welsh names, including Brysan.

Throughout the medieval period, the name Brysan appears to have been primarily used within Welsh-speaking communities in Wales and the surrounding regions. It is worth noting that during this time, the spelling and pronunciation of names were often fluid, and variations such as "Brysen" or "Brysant" may have been used interchangeably.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Brysan was a Welsh poet and bard who lived in the late 14th century. While little is known about his life, his works have been preserved in various manuscripts and provide insight into the cultural and literary traditions of medieval Wales.

Another notable figure with the name Brysan was a Welsh nobleman who lived during the 15th century. He was known for his involvement in the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars fought between the Houses of Lancaster and York for control of the English throne. While his exact dates of birth and death are uncertain, historical records suggest that he played a significant role in the conflict.

In the 16th century, a Welsh scholar and translator named Brysan ap Rhys gained recognition for his work in preserving and translating ancient Welsh texts. He was born around 1510 and is believed to have lived until the late 1500s. His contributions to the preservation of Welsh literature and language have been widely acknowledged.

During the 17th century, a Welsh clergyman named Brysan Jones gained prominence for his religious writings and sermons. He was born in 1625 and served as a minister in various parishes throughout Wales until his death in 1692. His works provide valuable insights into the religious and cultural practices of the time.

In the 18th century, a Welsh artist and engraver named Brysan Williams achieved recognition for his intricate and detailed engravings, many of which depicted landscapes and historical scenes from Wales. He was born in 1735 and lived until 1810, leaving behind a significant body of work that showcased his talent and dedication to preserving Welsh heritage.

People

Brysan + last name combinations

How many people share a full name with Brysan as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.

Related

Other names starting with B

Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.

FAQ

Brysan: questions and answers

How many people in the U.S. are named Brysan?

Name Census puts the figure at roughly 150 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Brysan going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,285,029 US residents.

Is Brysan a common name?

We classify Brysan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 70.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 151 babies have been registered with this name.

When was Brysan most popular?

The single biggest year for Brysan was 2011, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Brysan is about 13 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.

What does the SSA popularity chart show?

The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Brysan in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.

Is Brysan a male name?

Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Brysan in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.

Is Brysan still being used today?

Yes. The SSA still recorded Brysan in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.

Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?

Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Brysan can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.

Where does this data come from?

First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.

Does every first name have Census demographic data?

No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.

How many people are called Brysan?

You can see how many Americans are named Brysan on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.

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There are 150 people

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Brysan

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