Brendan is the English form of the Irish Breanainn, which is thought to come from a Welsh word for "prince" or "king". Saint Brendan the Navigator, a sixth-century Irish monk, is said to have sailed the Atlantic in a leather boat, and actor Brendan Fraser is the best-known American bearer. Brendan ranked number 101 in 2000, its best year, and has fallen steadily since, leaving the top 1000 in 2024 and standing at number 1098 in 2025.