name
Common
Brian
BREYE-uhn
Brian (name) means a male given name of Irish origin, one of the most common English first names for men. Example: “Brian called ahead to book the table for six.”
name
1
A male given name of Irish origin, one of the most common English first names for men.
"Chili’s has also enlisted several actors from “The Office” to star in the ads, including Melora Hardin (Jan Levinson), Andy Buckley (David Wallace), Brian Baumgartner (Kevin Malone) and Kate Flannery (Meredith Palmer)."
— Jordan Valinsky, Chili’s is opening a retro restaurant in Scranton that celebrates ‘The Office’ (2025)
"Brian called ahead to book the table for six."
verb
1
(rare, dialectal) To keep a fire lit at the mouth of an oven or kiln, to preserve heat.
"The baker would brian the oven overnight so it stayed warm by morning."
How to use Brian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOverwhelmingly known today as a common first name; the verb sense is archaic and essentially unused in modern English.
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- brians
- Past tense
- brianed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ called ahead to book the table for six.
Etymology
Borrowed from the Irish name Brian, of uncertain deeper origin, possibly related to a word for "high" or "noble."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Brian
See all rhymes for Brian →Frequently asked questions
What does “Brian” mean?
The word “Brian” means a male given name of Irish origin, one of the most common English first names for men. In plain terms, overwhelmingly known today as a common first name; the verb sense is archaic and essentially unused in modern English.
How do you pronounce “Brian”?
“Brian” is pronounced BREYE-uhn (/ˈbɹaɪ.ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Brian” in a sentence?
Here is “Brian” used in a sentence: “Brian called ahead to book the table for six.”
What part of speech is “Brian”?
Depending on how it is used, “Brian” can be a name and a verb.
Where does the word “Brian” come from?
The word “Brian” comes from Irish. Borrowed from the Irish name Brian, of uncertain deeper origin, possibly related to a word for "high" or "noble.".
Is “Brian” a common word?
“Brian” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Brian” have?
“Brian” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a male given name of Irish origin, one of the most common English first names for men.
What does the name Brian mean?
Brian is usually said to mean 'noble', 'high', or 'strong', from an old Celtic root. Some scholars link it to a word for 'hill' or 'high place', which came to suggest eminence and virtue. The exact origin is debated, but the sense of nobility and strength is the traditional meaning.
Where does the name Brian come from?
Brian is of Irish origin and was carried into England and beyond both by settlers and through admiration for Brian Boru, the celebrated High King of Ireland who died in 1014. From these Gaelic roots it spread across the English-speaking world, becoming one of the most familiar male first names.
Is Brian a popular name?
Yes. Brian has long been one of the most common English given names for men, especially popular in Britain, Ireland, and North America through much of the twentieth century. Its use has cooled somewhat in recent decades, but it remains widely recognised and worn by men of many generations.
What are common nicknames and variants of Brian?
The usual short form is Bri. The name is also spelled Bryan or Brien, and the surname-style Bryant is related. A feminine version, Briana or Brianna, became popular later. Despite the spelling variations, all forms trace back to the same Irish name and its associations with nobility and strength.
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