Bret
Bret is a boy's name of Celtic origin.
Meaning
A Briton or a native of Brittany.
Origin and history
Bret is a masculine given name of Anglo-Norman and Celtic origin, derived from an ethnonym referring to a native of Brittany or Britain. It rose to prominence in the mid-to-late 20th century in the United States, often used as a variation of Brett. Today, it remains a recognized classic name, though its usage has moderated in recent years.
Popularity in the United States
29,819 babies in the United States have been named Bret since 1880. It ranks #680 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1797.
States where it is most popular
- CA (14.5 %)
- OH (6.8 %)
- IL (5.8 %)
- TX (5.7 %)
- PA (4.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 5 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 133 |
| 1950-1960 | 3,963 |
| 1960-1970 | 8,415 |
| 1970-1980 | 5,536 |
| 1980-1990 | 5,581 |
| 1990-2000 | 4,007 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,618 |
| 2010-2019 | 431 |
| 2020-2029 | 130 |
Famous people named Bret
- Bret Easton Ellis: Author, Screenwriter
- Bret Hart: Professional Wrestler
- Bret Baier: Journalist, News Anchor
Fun facts
- Bret is the single-'t' variant of Brett, which originally signified an Anglo-Norman descriptor for someone from Brittany.
- The name gained cultural visibility through characters like Bret Maverick in the classic Western television series Maverick.