Brendan: meaning and origin
Brendan
“Prince; Saint Brendan the Navigator”
About the name Brendan
Brendan is a boy’s name from the Irish tradition. Its meaning is “prince; Saint Brendan the Navigator”. Names from Irish Gaelic, often linked to nature, saints and heroes of old Irish stories — like Aiden, Maeve, Ronan and Keira.
It’s a classic: a name that has been used for generations and still feels fresh.
More names with a similar meaning: royal names: king, queen and noble.
Tips before you choose
- Say the full name out loud with your last name, and with any middle name.
- Check the initials — and what they spell.
- Think about nicknames kids might make from it.
- Write it down: is the spelling easy for teachers and friends?
More Irish names
- Aiden 👦Little fire · Irish
- Cillian 👦Little church; also bright-headed · Irish
- Connor 👦Lover of hounds · Irish
- Cormac 👦Son of the charioteer · Irish
- Declan 👦Full of goodness; an Irish saint · Irish
- Finley 🧒Fair-haired warrior · Irish
- Finn 👦Fair, white; the hero Fionn mac Cumhaill · Irish
- Lennon 🧒Lover; from an Irish surname · Irish
- Liam 👦Strong-willed warrior; the Irish short form of William · Irish
- Nolan 👦Champion, noble · Irish
- Riley 🧒Courageous; also a rye meadow · Irish
- Ronan 👦Little seal · Irish
Sibling name ideas (Irish, girls)
- Aoife 👧Beauty, radiance · Irish
- Bridget 👧Strength, exalted one · Irish
- Ciara 👧Dark-haired · Irish
- Erin 👧Ireland · Irish
- Keira 👧Little dark one · Irish
- Kennedy 👧Helmeted chief; from an Irish surname · Irish
- Maeve 👧She who intoxicates; a legendary queen of Connacht · Irish
- Niamh 👧Bright, radiant; a goddess in Irish legend · Irish
More boy names starting with B
- Beau 👦Handsome · French
- Benjamin 👦Son of the right hand · Hebrew
- Bennett 👦Blessed · Latin
- Bjorn 👦Bear · Scandinavian
- Boaz 👦Swiftness, strength · Hebrew
- Brooks 👦Of the brook, small stream · English
Questions and answers
What does the name Brendan mean?
Brendan is a name of Irish origin. It means: prince; Saint Brendan the Navigator.
Is Brendan a boy or girl name?
Brendan is usually given to boys.
How many syllables does Brendan have?
Brendan has 7 letters and about 2 syllables.