Breanna is a feminine form of Brian, an Irish name probably from a Celtic root meaning "high" or "noble". The spelling with -ea- was an American invention of the 1980s and 1990s, when Brianna and Breanna were among the most popular new girls' names. Breanna ranked number 80 in 2000, its all-time best, has fallen steadily since, left the top 1000 in 2018 and stands at number 2548 in 2025.