Brenda
Brenda is a boy's name of Celtic origin.
Meaning
Sword or firebrand.
Origin and history
Brenda is derived from the Old Norse name Brandr, meaning 'sword' or 'firebrand', influenced by Gaelic names like Brendan. Historically a female name in modern English usage, it saw rare male usage in the United States during the mid-20th century. It is currently extremely rare for boys in the U.S.
Popularity in the United States
2,119 babies in the United States have been named Brenda since 1880. It ranks #2803 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- CA (47 %)
- TX (17.9 %)
- NY (5.6 %)
- AL (4.6 %)
- GA (3.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 19 |
| 1940-1950 | 309 |
| 1950-1960 | 448 |
| 1960-1970 | 511 |
| 1970-1980 | 206 |
| 1980-1990 | 358 |
| 1990-2000 | 227 |
| 2000-2010 | 41 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Fun facts
- The name is ultimately derived from the Old Norse word 'brandr', which refers to the blade of a sword or a piece of burning wood.
- Although primarily used as a female name in the modern era, over 2,000 boys in the U.S. were named Brenda in the 20th century.