Brett
Brett is a girl's name of Celtic origin.
Meaning
A Briton; inhabitant of Brittany.
Origin and history
Brett is derived from an Old French and Middle English ethnonym meaning 'a Briton' or someone from Brittany. While predominantly given to males in the United States, it has a long history of rare to moderate use as a female given name. It carries a short, energetic, unisex feel.
Popularity in the United States
3,404 babies in the United States have been named Brett since 1880. It ranks #3040 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2005.
States where it is most popular
- CA (28.3 %)
- NY (17.1 %)
- TX (15.2 %)
- PA (5.5 %)
- FL (4.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 109 |
| 1960-1970 | 296 |
| 1970-1980 | 658 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,050 |
| 1990-2000 | 777 |
| 2000-2010 | 278 |
| 2010-2019 | 140 |
| 2020-2029 | 96 |
Famous people named Brett
- Brett Butler: Actress, Comedian
- Brett Somers: Actress, Television Personality
Fun facts
- The name gained notable recognition as a female name through Lady Brett Ashley, the central character in Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel The Sun Also Rises.
- It originally functioned as a surname denoting someone who belonged to the Celtic tribe of Britons or hailed from Brittany in France.