Brighid
A girl's name with 524 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
superseded spelling of Bríd
Brighid is a girl's baby name of Irish origin, an older spelling of Brigid or Bride, from the Celtic Brigantia or brigh meaning 'exalted,' 'mighty,' or 'power.' Saint Brigid of Kildare is one of Ireland's three patron saints, beloved for her generosity and miraculous works.
The original Irish spelling, Brighid carries the full sacred weight of one of the most important women in Irish Christian history — raw, ancient, and deeply beautiful.
EtymologyShow more
Brighid's linguistic roots are not definitively traced to a single tradition. Names that emerged in late-twentieth-century America were often created by blending sounds, respelling existing names, or combining elements from multiple languages — a form of linguistic creativity that makes pinning down a single origin difficult.
What the data does show: Brighid has 524 recorded U.S. births as a girl's name, with its sharp, distinct ending ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Brighid was #5087 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #13723, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 11 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 90 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 151 | — |
| 1990s | 156 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 98 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 18 | — |
The Story of Brighid
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2004, Brighid is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Brighid are most likely born between 1994 and 2014.
How rare is Brighid?
Only about 1 in every 600,000 babies born in 2024 was named Brighid — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1975, peaked in the 1990s with 156 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Brighid by the numbers
- Would fill 11 school buses
- Meeting one Brighid per day would take 1.4 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(44 years, 1975–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | #13723 |
| 2021 | 5 | #15663 |
| 2019 | 8 | #11549 |
| 2018 | 11 | #9269 |
| 2017 | 6 | #14453 |
| 2016 | 10 | #10228 |
| 2015 | 10 | #10274 |
| 2014 | 5 | #17018 |
| 2013 | 11 | #9720 |
| 2012 | 15 | #7884 |
| 2011 | 7 | #13610 |
| 2010 | 7 | #13709 |
| 2009 | 11 | #10094 |
| 2008 | 15 | #8189 |
| 2007 | 12 | #9646 |
| 2006 | 12 | #9393 |
| 2005 | 12 | #8993 |
| 2004 | 25 | #5087 |
| 2003 | 15 | #7268 |
| 2002 | 16 | #6750 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brighid a boy's or girl's name?
When was Brighid most popular?
How popular is the name Brighid?
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1975–2024