- In use in England since the Middle Ages
- May be connected with the Irish word for Hill, thus “He ascends”
- Some texts define it as meaning “strong”
- Also commonly spelled Bryan
- Feminine variations include Briana, Brianna
- 10th century Brian Boru was a high king and great national hero of Ireland
History of the name Brian
From Connellan’s Four Masters: Brian is represented by our old annalists as a man of fine figure, large stature, of great strength of body, and undaunted valor; and has been always justly celebrated as one of the greatest of the Irish monarchs.
He is equally conspicuous for his mental endowments and physical energies; a man of great intellectual powers, sagacity, and bravery; a warrior and legislator; and, at the same time, distinguished for his munificence, piety, and patronage of learned men; thus combining all the elements of a great character, and equally eminent in the arts of war and peace; a hero and patriot, whose memory will always remain famous as one of the foremost of the Irish kings, in wisdom and valor.
Brian lived at his palace of Cean Cora (Kincora), in a style of regal splendor and magnificence, unequaled by any of the Irish kings since the days of Cormac Mac Art, the celebrated monarch of Ireland in the third century — the glories of whose palace at Tara were for many ages the theme of the Irish bards.
