Brian

[edit] English

An Irish name of Celtic origin and obscure meaning, possibly from a word meaning "hill, high".

Singular
Brian

Plural
-

Brian

After the Middle Ages, mostly used in Ireland; and again popular in all English-speaking countries in the 20th century.

1865 Charlotte Eliza L. Riddell: Maxwell Drewitt. Tinsley Brothers, London 1865. page 255-256:

"What the deuce is their fancy for calling the young beggar Brian?" he inquired."Is it Brian Boroimhe they have gone back to, or is it some of her people, or what?"

"There was a good Drewitt once," answered Wilhelmina, "- - - and his name was Brian. - - - And Nannie told her, too, how a child always strains after the person it is called after, and how luck follows names, and worked her up to such a pit finally, that nothing would do her but the young gentleman must be called Brian and accordingly Brian he is - Brian Archibald. It is not an easy name to make fun out of; so all I can do is to call him Brin Baldy.
2008 Phill Young: FarArc. Author House 2008. ISBN 1434378365 page 145:

Why oh why had his parents even considered Brian? Brian is someone who works in a hardware shop or fixes the U bend. What chance did Sir Lovesdaslutalot have in life with a name like Brian? You can't even shorten Brian to Bri without it sounding like a kind of cheese!

Brian