Brett

Pronunciation: [ br-EHT ]

Boy Name #1,061 Most Popular Hidden Gem 1 Syllable

A Celtic Breton name that became America's most 1980s choice

English American Australian

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Meaning & Origin

"a Breton, person from Brittany"

Origin: Celtic/Old French

Language: Old French

"one from the British Isles"

Origin: Old French broader usage

Language: Old French

Things to Know About This Name

Brett Kavanaugh's 2018 Supreme Court nomination controversy — may carry political weight for some families

The Story of Brett

Brett derives from the Old French and Celtic word 'Bret' meaning Breton — a person from Brittany, the Celtic region of northwestern France. After the Norman Conquest of 1066, many Bretons came to England alongside the Normans, and 'le Bret' became a surname identifying families of Breton origin. It transitioned to a given name in English-speaking countries in the 20th century, particularly popular in America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Brett peaked in the United States in the 1970s and 1980s, popular among the same generation as fellow one-syllable names Brad, Chad, and Trent. It has declined considerably as it feels distinctly of its era. Brett Favre's celebrated NFL career kept it visible in sports culture for decades.

In Australian culture, Brett has long been used playfully as the archetypal suburban Australian male name — the Australian equivalent of Chad or Greg in American culture. In American literary culture, Jake Barnes's love interest in Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises is Lady Brett Ashley, making it one of the few names used memorably for both genders in classic literature.

Fun Facts

Brett Favre played 297 consecutive regular season games as an NFL quarterback — the longest consecutive start streak in NFL history
Lady Brett Ashley in Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises (1926) is one of the most iconic female characters in American literature with a traditionally male name
In Australia, Brett became so associated with suburban ordinariness that it spawned the expression Bogan Brett as a cultural archetype

Brett in Other Languages

French Bret

German Brett

Spanish Brett

Japanese ブレット

Celtic/Breton Bret

Famous People Named Brett

Brett Lee

Athlete

1976

Australian cricketer and one of the fastest bowlers in cricket history, known for his pace and aggressive style

Brett Favre

Athlete

1969

Hall of Fame NFL quarterback who won the Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers in 1997 and holds the record for most con...

Hall of Fame NFL quarterback who won the Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers in 1997 and holds the record for most consecutive starts by a quarterback

Lady Brett Ashley Fictional

Other

The independent, modern protagonist of Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises (1926), one of the defining female characte...

The independent, modern protagonist of Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises (1926), one of the defining female characters of 20th century American literature

Quick Facts

Gender: Boy
Syllables: 1
Popularity Rank: #1,061
Total SSA Count: 205
Cultural Origins: English American Australian
Pronunciation: Easy
Formality: Moderate
Cross-Cultural Ease: Moderate

Alternative Spellings

Bret #4823

Nicknames

Bre Bry Breie

Pairs Well With

Brett James Brett Allen Brett Lee Brett Michael Brett Thomas Brett Andrew Brett Scott

Sibling Names

Chad Craig Troy Heath Brent Kim Tanya

Also a Girl Name

Brett is also used as a girl name, ranked #7695.

View Brett as a girl name →

Similar Names

Fred Bradford Craig Brent Kent Lance Chet Granger

Playground Safety

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Frequently Asked Questions About Brett

What does the name Brett mean?

"a Breton, person from Brittany" (from Celtic/Old French). "one from the British Isles" (from Old French broader usage). Brett derives from the Old French and Celtic word 'Bret' meaning Breton — a person from Brittany, the Celtic region of northwestern France. After the Norman Conquest of 1066, many Bretons came to England alongside the Normans, and 'le Bret' became a surname identifying families of Breton origin. It transitioned to a given name in English-speaking countries in the 20th century, particularly popular in America, Australia, and New Zealand.

What is the origin of the name Brett?

Brett has Celtic/Old French, Old French broader usage, English, American, and Australian origins. In Celtic/Old French, it means "a Breton, person from Brittany". In Old French broader usage, it means "one from the British Isles".

Is Brett a boy or girl name?

Brett is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #1061. As a girl name, it is ranked #7695. Brett is more commonly used as a boy name.

How do you pronounce Brett?

Brett is pronounced br-EHT.

How popular is the name Brett?

Brett is currently ranked #1061 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Brett?

Common nicknames for Brett include Bre, Bry, and Breie.

What are good middle names for Brett?

Popular middle name pairings include Brett James, Brett Allen, Brett Lee, Brett Michael, Brett Thomas, Brett Andrew, and Brett Scott.

What are good sibling names for Brett?

Names that pair well with Brett as siblings include Chad, Craig, Troy, Heath, Brent, Kim, and Tanya.

How many syllables does Brett have?

Brett has 1 syllable, making it easy to say and remember.

Is Brett a common or rare name?

Brett is an uncommon name, ranked #1061 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.

About the Name Brett

Brett is a boy name with English, American, and Australian origins . The name means "a Breton, person from Brittany" in Celtic/Old French .

Is Brett a boy or girl name? Brett is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #1,061 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #7,695. Brett is more commonly used as a boy name.

Brett is currently ranked #1,061 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

The name Brett has 1 syllable and is pronounced br-EHT, making it easy to pronounce and remember.

Common nicknames for Brett include Bre, Bry, and Breie. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.

Alternative spellings of Brett include Bret . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.