Brian vs. Bryan: which name is older?
The average Brian is 48 and the average Bryan is 39, so Brian is the older name, by about 8 years.
Brian and Bryan sound alike, so the spelling is the clue: a Brian is more likely to have been born in the early 1970s, and a Bryan in the mid 1980s.
Brian
Bryan
When was each name popular?
Brian peaked first, in 1972 (in the early 1970s). Bryan peaked in 1985, 13 years later.
Which name is more common?
There are about 1 million Brians and about 350,000 Bryans alive in the US, so there are about 3 times as many Brians as Bryans.
Boys or girls?
Both are boys' names: over 99% of living Brians and over 99% of living Bryans are men.
Names the same age as Brian
Names the same age as Bryan
More comparisons: Brian vs. Ryan
Think you can guess a Brian's age?
Ten names, one slider each. Share your score.
Brian or Bryan: questions
Which is older, Brian or Bryan?
The average Brian is 48 and the average Bryan is 39, so Brian is the older name, by about 8 years.
How old is the average Brian?
The average Brian in the US is 48; half of all living Brians are between 39 and 58.
How old is the average Bryan?
The average Bryan in the US is 39; half of all living Bryans are between 26 and 52.
Which is more common, Brian or Bryan?
There are about 1 million Brians and about 350,000 Bryans alive in the US, so there are about 3 times as many Brians as Bryans.
Estimates from Social Security Administration baby-name records (births 1880–2025) and SSA cohort life tables (2026 Trustees Report). How we calculate this