Boy name · Celtic
Bran
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: a ravenBran is a boy's name that comes from Celtic and means "a raven". It is used in Irish and Welsh.
- Meaning
- A raven
- Origin
- Celtic
- Gender
- Boy
- Letters
- 4
Meaning and origin of Bran
As a boy's name, Bran comes from Celtic and means "a raven". It is used in Irish and Welsh.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Bran on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Bran on 5 lists.
“Welsh and Irish for raven”
From Black cat names, black cat names from myth and folklore
“Fionn mac Cumhaill's loyal hound in Irish legend”
From Boy dog names, mythology names for boy dogs
“A raven; Celtic. A giant king of Welsh legend bore it”
From Gothic names, names that mean dark, night or raven
“Raven; Irish Gaelic, a sea voyager in legend; rhymes with man.”
From Irish boy names, irish boy names from nature
“A raven; Celtic, a giant king in Welsh legend”
From Unique boy names, uncommon Irish and Welsh boy names
How popular is Bran?
- Recent US rank
- Fewer than 5 babies in 2025
- Best rank
- #3,007 in 1972
- Most babies: 14 in 2021
- Babies since 1970
- At least 232
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 0 per million |
| 1970s | 4 per million |
| 1980s | 1 per million |
| 1990s | 0 per million |
| 2000s | 1 per million |
| 2010s | 5 per million |
| 2020s | 3 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,411 | #7,167 | #8,937 | #9,016 | – | #6,073 | #12,621 | #9,889 | #11,144 | – |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Bran
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
Names with a similar meaning
- BertramBright raven (Germanic, boy)
- BertrandBright raven (Germanic, boy)
- BranwenWhite raven (Welsh, girl)
- CorbinRaven (Old French, boy)
- FéichínLittle raven (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- FiachnaRaven (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- HrafnRaven (Old Norse, boy)
- HrafnhildRaven and battle (Old Norse, girl)
- HrafnkelRaven and cauldron (Old Norse, boy)
- HrefnaRaven (Old Norse, girl)
Middle names for Bran
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Celtic
Bran: common questions
What does the name Bran mean?
Bran comes from Celtic and means "a raven".
Is Bran a boy or girl name?
Bran is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Bran come from?
Bran comes from Celtic and means "a raven". Today it is used in Irish and Welsh.
What names are similar to Bran?
Names spelled like Bran include Baran, Bram, Brand, Bryn and Ben.
What middle names go with Bran?
Middle names that flow well with Bran include Alexander, Chase, Evander, Gerald and Lance. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.