Given name · also Celtic
Breanna
“from the high hill; one who ascends”
In English use, Breanna has a related form in Brianna. In Irish use, Brianna carries the interpretation “from the high hill; one who ascends.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Breanna has a related form in Brianna. In Irish use, Brianna carries the interpretation “from the high hill; one who ascends.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Breanna comes from Celtic, and ultimately from Celtic languages.
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1965. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Breanna through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 82,440
- 65 boys · 82,375 girls
- Most popular year
- 1996
- 4,701 babies
- 2025
- 69
- #2,548 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −56%
- Cooling
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 69 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,548 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 56.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 4,701 in 1996. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (14). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 68,070 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Breanna’s family of names
In English usage, Breanna has a diminutive in Bree. In English usage, Breanna has a related form in Brianna. In English usage, Breanna has a related form in Briana.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Breanna
- Breanna StewartAmerican basketball player (born 1994)
- Breanna YdeAustralian actress and singerborn 2003
- Breanna ClarkAmerican athletics competitorborn 1994
- Breanna SinclairéAmerican transgender opera singerborn 1991
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Breanna, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kiana
“from an ancient family” · “of an ancient family”
>99% girls
Deiana
“fairy”
>99% girls
Catriona
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
McKenna
“the son of Kenna; to ascend”
>99% girls
Tehani
“the”
>99% girls
Cassidy
“curly-haired girl” · “a clever man”
7% boys · 93% girls
Kiera
“little dark-haired one” · “having dark features; the little dark one”
>99% girls
Shealy
“descendant of Sealbhach”
>99% girls