Given name & surname
Bryn
“from the hill”
Bryn is used as a given name and a surname. One Welsh interpretation is “from the hill.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Welsh interpretation is “from the hill.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Welsh.
How it developed
Bryn is a short form of Brynmor.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1947. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Bryn through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 8,861
- 1,329 boys · 7,532 girls
- Most popular year
- 2011
- 387 babies
- 2025
- 106
- #2,021 for girls · #6,867 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −27%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 10% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 94 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,021 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 29.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 370 in 2011. It also appeared in 12 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Pennsylvania had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (9). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 8,179 as a first name in 2020; 234 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Bryn’s family of names
Bryn is a short form of Brynmor. Bryn has a related form in Brianna. In English usage, Bryn has a related form in Brynn.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Bryn
- Bryn TerfelWelsh bass-baritoneborn 1965
- Bryn ForbesAmerican basketball player (born 1993)
- MuslimgauzeBritish electronic musician (1961–1999)
- Bryn McAuleyCanadian actressborn 1989
- Bryn GunnEnglish footballer (born 1958)
- Bryn Mooserhumanitarian and filmmakerborn 1979
- Bryn KenneyAmerican poker playerborn 1986
- Bryn AllenWelsh footballer (1921-2005)
- Bryn MeredithWelsh rugby union playerborn 1930
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Bryn, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Gwyneth
“one who is blessed with happiness”
>99% girls
Quinn
“woman who is queenly” · “one who provides counsel; an intelligent man”
20% boys · 80% girls
Briana
“from the high hill; one who ascends”
>99% girls
Maisie
“pearl”
>99% girls
Siobhan
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>99% girls
Sheena
“God's gracious gift”
>99% girls
Seonaid
“a gift from God”
>99% girls
Ethnea
“a puzzle piece”
>99% girls