Brighton

A Old English name gently fading from the charts.

Boy's name| Also girlsOld EnglishDeclining Also a pet name
#1984 108in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A placename: A coastal city in East Sussex, England.

Brighton is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old English origin, from the English coastal city whose name derives from Beorhthelm's tun, meaning 'Beorhthelm's settlement' or 'bright town.' Brighton became a fashionable resort under the Prince Regent in the early 19th century.

As a given name, Brighton has a breezy, coastal sophistication — it evokes Regency-era glamour and seaside freshness, with a confident sound that sits perfectly in the contemporary surname-names trend.

Compare Brighton with another name

Popularity Over Time

Brighton was #1531 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #1984, but its charm endures.

0397911815720002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Brighton
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s486
2010s1,312
2000s865
1990s239
1980s27

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(39 years, 19832024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Brighton
YearBirthsRank
202478#1984
202384#1876
2022104#1653
2021125#1441
202095#1673
2019108#1550
2018118#1468
201794#1683
2016125#1400
2015152#1210
2014153#1203
2013147#1221
2012157#1163
2011138#1252
2010120#1391
2009124#1378
2008128#1344
2007118#1387
2006120#1352
2005113#1334

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Brighton as a Girl's Name

Brighton is a true unisex name. As a girl's name, it has 2,078 recorded births since 1986.

#2151
Current rank
2,078
Total births
2017
Peak year
Compare Brighton as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Brighton be used for both boys and girls?
Yes, Brighton is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #1984. As a girl's name, it ranks #2151.

Brighton has two lives

Brighton, the baby name
#1984boys
2,929 babies
Currently viewing
Brighton, the pet name
#3557pet name
22 pets
View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (19832024) · Methodology