Top Origin and Spiritual Meaning of the Name Brianna

The name Brianna is a beautiful name. It’s been used for centuries as a feminine name that has a great meaning. Brianna has a Celtic origin, which is where it gets its meaning. It does not appear in the Bible, but its meaning can tie into a Biblical theme. Also, there is a Hebrew alternative for the name Brianna. The name Brianna means strong, high, noble, or exalted. 

There are tons of meanings behind the name Brianna, and its origins are interesting too. It is a solid choice if you are looking for a baby girl’s name. In this article, we will take a deeper dive into the name Brianna and look at some scripture that might coincide with the name’s meaning. 

The Origin of the Name Brianna

To find the meaning of the name Brianna, we must first look at the masculine form of the name, “Brian.” The name Brian preceded the name Brianna, and Brianna became popular well after Brian was an established name.

Brian has Celtic origins and can be dated back to the 9th Century. Based on it’s long history Brian is a classic name and so it Brianna. 

Being from Irish origin clearly, the name was used in Ireland, but it was also used in England and Brittany. Since then the name has continued to grow in popularity, and it even expanded to the Western world. Later we will discuss that Brianna has been a popular name in United States history, so obviously the name has gone around the world.

Based on Onomatology, the name Brian came from the Irish word, “Bre.” Bre was used as a noun for a hill or mountain. It is for this reason that Brian is thought to mean high, exalted, or strong because mountains are usually described as all of those things. 

Mountains symbolize strength and power, so Brian and Brianna can assume the same characteristics. Brianna ultimately means noble, high, and exalted based on all these things. The meaning of Brianna is great, and the origin of Brianna is rich in history. 

This meaning solidifies it as one of the most meaningful names that we have today. Not every name has a meaning that is equal to the meaning of this name.

Although that might not seem like an entirely Biblical meaning, there are Biblical themes about power that can be drawn as parallels to the Word of God.

Bible Verses Relating to the Topic of Power 

The Bible has multiple references to strength, exalting, and power. Although Brianna does not directly translate into these verses, you can assume these verses into the name Brianna.

Brianna is a Reminder of the Power of the Holy Spirit

The name Brianna might mean that we should remember the power of the Holy Spirit inside of us. Acts 1:8 says “8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

There is a power inside of us whenever we receive the Holy Spirit. It is not a power of our ability, but it is a power endowed to us by the Holy Spirit. 

The name Brianna might seem self-serving as if you are calling yourself powerful, but it can be a reminder that the Holy Spirit does empower us. God gave us the Holy Spirit to elevate our lives and to exalt Him through us.

Jesus had the Holy Spirit empowering him too! We see an example of this in the book of Isaiah, where it says, “2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD—” He had power, in part because of the Holy Spirit’s anointing on His life, and so do we. 

Brianna is a Reminder that We Should Exalt God 

The example of exalting God is shown many times in scripture. He is the only one who should be exalted. Although, God promises to exalt us when the time comes. 

One example of people exalting God happens in the book of Psalm. In Psalm 145:1 it says, “I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.” We should not look to exalt ourselves, but we should look to exalt God. 

Brianna might seem like we are exalting ourselves, instead it can be a reminder that God is the exalter of all things. No matter how awesome we are, God’s always exalted above us. He is greater than we could ever imagine. 

Ultimately, the name Brianna is not specifically in the Bible, but it’s meaning can reference some important Biblical themes. The topics of the power of the Holy Spirit and God’s holiness are invoked by the name Brianna.

A Hebrew Alternative for the Name Brianna

Since Brianna is not in the Bible, you might want to choose a name that is more closely related to the Bible. Much of the Bible is written in Hebrew, so in Hebrew, there is a word for strong, which could be used as a girl’s name. 

The Hebrew name Aaliyah is the Hebrew word for high and exalted. Although the Brianna does not have Hebrew origins, the meaning can be translated. Knowing this, you might want to choose Aaliyah instead of Brianna. Aaliyah is a pretty name and it’s in the language of the Bible. 

Pronunciations of the Name Brianna

There are a couple of different ways that the name Brianna can be pronounced. The first is Bree-an-uh. And the second is Bree-An. The meaning of the name does not change based on the pronunciation, so this is simply a matter of personal preference.  

The Common Use of the Name Brianna

​Brianna has been a popular baby name for a while now, but has it been used more a surname or a first name? The name Brianna has been used both as a first, middle, and last name, however it is most common for the name Brianna to be used as a first name. Brianna can also be used as a middle name, but it is not as frequently used in that way. 

Gender of  Brianna

As discussed earlier, Brianna came from the masculine name Brian or Brion. Brianna is the feminine form of those names, so it is used by girls primarily. That makes it a traditional name for girls. 

Although feminine names are mostly used by girls, at this point, the name definition is more important than it’s gender. 

​There are a couple of variations of the name that might be used as unisex names. Bre and Brana are both English names that could be used in place of Brianna for a baby boy or girl. 

Popularity of the Name Brianna

Brianna has tons of history outside of the United States, but how popular is it in the US? Since the name started to be tracked in the United States, Brianna has grown in popularity. Among baby girl names it has gone up, and it has fallen throughout the past 50 years. 

According to the Social Security Administration. the popularity of the name started very low in the mid-1970s. Since then, it has grown in popularity. By the end of the 70s it was in the top 330 names for girls in the states, and only got more popular after that. Throughout the 80s and 90s, Brianna became a very popular name. 

It peaked at #15 in the United States in 2000. That means that there were only 14 more popular names than it in 2000, but it’s popularity fallen since then. It is still in the top 200 but just barely. 

Many parents don’t want their children to have super common names, so Brianna might have just fallen off the hyper-used area and might be considered a unique name now.  It might become more obscure over time, so a little girl being named Brianna today might not have the same name as their classmates when they are in school. 

Brianna as a Christian Name 

The name Brianna might be the perfect name for a Christian daughter. The history of the name is rich and the specific analysis shows that there is Biblical backing for the meaning of the name. The meaning points to Brianna being a natural leader who has excellent work ethic and communication skills.

Although a name might not have a big role in someone’s personality, the name declares a sense of strength in a great way. If you are considering naming a baby Brianna, you can feel good about your choice for the apparent reason that the name has a strong meaning. So keep an open mind to the name Brianna!