Bryant is an English surname derived from Brian, a Celtic name usually explained as "noble" or "high", from the element bre, hill. Television host Bryant Gumbel and basketball star Kobe Bryant kept the name in the public eye for two generations. Bryant stood at number 318 in 2000, peaked at number 303 in 2001, held near number 600 through 2017, left the top 1000 in 2023 and ranks number 1323 in 2025.