Bree is a short form of Brianna, Briana or Gabrielle, and it is also linked to the Irish Brígh, meaning "strength" or "exalted one". It became a name in its own right in the 1970s and was carried into the 2000s by Bree Van de Kamp of the television series Desperate Housewives. Bree entered the US top 1000 for girls in 2006, peaked at number 866 in 2010 and has slipped to number 2826 in 2025.