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Home › Baby Names Directory › Branda

Branda

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Branda

Pronounced BRAN-duh /ˈbræn.də/High

Meaning: Branda is a variant of Brenda, a name of Old Norse origin (from Brandr, related to brandr 'sword' or 'flame/torch') that took hold in Scotland and Ireland before its mid-century American boom. The a-spelling shifts the vowel slightly while keeping Brenda's roots.Medium

In 30 seconds: Branda is a variant of Brenda, from Old Norse roots meaning 'sword' or 'torch' (said 'BRAN-duh').
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Origin MediumNorse
MeaningBranda is a variant of Brenda, a name of Old Norse origin (from Brandr, related to brandr 'sword' or 'flame/torch') that took hold in Scotland and Ireland before its mid-century American boom. The a-spelling shifts the vowel slightly while keeping Brenda's roots.
U.S. rank (2007)#15808 ↘ Falling
2007 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1973
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,097

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197319452007

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Branda reflects Brenda, whose source is the Old Norse Brandr — from a word for 'sword' or a burning 'brand/torch'. Brenda spread through Shetland and Scotland (helped by Sir Walter Scott) before becoming a mid-century American favorite; Branda is a minor spelling swap.

The Branda spelling stayed rare, peaking around 1973 while Brenda dominated, then fading with it. It reads as a vintage variant and is not part of any current revival.

Did you know? Brenda soared mid-century, partly on the comic-strip heroine Brenda Starr; spellings like Branda rode alongside the boom in smaller numbers.
Overall data confidence 55%
References — Brenda / Brandr — Old Norse 'sword/torch'; Branda variant

Variations

BrendaBrandahBrandea

Nicknames

BranBren

Famous Bearers

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If you like Branda…

Brenda— the standard name Branda varies
Glenda— a rhyming two-syllable -nda name of the era
Wanda— another vintage -anda girl's name
Rhonda— shares the mid-century -nda sound and feel

Explore names like Branda

By themerarevintagevariant

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Branda mean?

Branda is a variant of Brenda, from Old Norse, meaning 'sword' or 'torch'.

How do you pronounce Branda?

It's said BRAN-duh /ˈbræn.də/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Branda a boy or girl name?

Branda is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Branda?

Rare — an uncommon spelling of Brenda that peaked in the early seventies.

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