Brigit

A girl's name of Irish origin with 1,238 recorded U.S. births.

Girl's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

The goddess of the Sacred Flame of Kildare and the patron goddess of the Druids. Daughter of the Dagdae of the Túatha Dé Danann.

Brigit is a girl's baby name of Irish origin meaning 'exalted one' or 'strength.' In Irish mythology, Brigit was a powerful triple goddess — patroness of healing, poetry, and smithcraft — and one of the most venerated figures of the pre-Christian Celtic world.

Saint Brigid of Kildare, who shares the name, is one of Ireland's three patron saints alongside Patrick and Columba. The name's mythological weight gives it a rare combination of ancient gravitas and spiritual warmth that few Irish names can match.

EtymologyShow more

Brigit is built from 6 letters and two syllables — a mid-length form that balances memorability with distinctiveness. Within the Irish naming tradition, this length is typical of names that preserve their full historical form, carrying their etymology on the surface.

The interplay of consonants and vowels in Brigit creates its characteristic sharp, distinct quality. Two-syllable names are the most common length in American naming, hitting a natural speech rhythm that works across formal and informal contexts.

At a Glance

1,238

Total births

Since 1954

1976

Peak

46 births

1954

First recorded

68 years of data

Compare Brigit with another name

Popularity Over Time

Brigit has 64+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1954.

First appeared: 1954Peak: 1976 (46 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Brigit
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	11	#14706	▼
2010s	90	#10357	▼
2000s	218	#6369	▼
1990s	290	#3838	▲
1980s	160	#4813	▼
1970s	258	#3094	▲
1960s	172	#3208	▲
1950s	39	#4372	—

The Story of Brigit

A Gen X name

Peaking in 1976, Brigit is a Gen X staple. Girls named Brigit are most likely born between 1966 and 1986.

How rare is Brigit?

With 1,238 total births on record, Brigit remains a rare and distinctive pick.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1954, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1990s with 290 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Brigit by the numbers

Would fill 26 school buses
Meeting one Brigit per day would take 3.4 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(64 years, 1954–2021)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Brigit
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2021	5	#15664	-1 (-16.7%)
2020	6	#13748	+1 (20.0%)
2018	5	#16112	-5 (-50.0%)
2016	10	#10230	0
2015	10	#10275	+1 (11.1%)
2014	9	#11144	-7 (-43.8%)
2013	16	#7447	+8 (100.0%)
2012	8	#12417	-6 (-42.9%)
2011	14	#8276	-4 (-22.2%)
2010	18	#6958	+10 (125.0%)
2009	8	#12634	-7 (-46.7%)
2008	15	#8190	-4 (-21.1%)
2007	19	#6868	0
2006	19	#6629	-7 (-26.9%)
2005	26	#4979	+9 (52.9%)
2004	17	#6833	-8 (-32.0%)
2003	25	#4970	-1 (-3.8%)
2002	26	#4657	-5 (-16.1%)
2001	31	#4037	-1 (-3.1%)
2000	32	#3896	-3 (-8.6%)

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brigit a boy's or girl's name?

Brigit is primarily a girl's name.

When was Brigit most popular?

Brigit reached its peak popularity in 1976 with 46 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Brigit?

Brigit is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 1,238 babies in the U.S. since 1954. Its peak was in 1976.

Explore More

By Length6-letter names By OriginIrish names By EndingNames in -t TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1954–2021