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Bronson

♂ Boy

Pronounced BRON-sun /ˈbrɒn.sən/High

Meaning: Son of Brand; from the Old English personal name Brun/Brand (dark, brown) + -sonMedium

In 30 seconds: An English patronymic surname meaning 'son of Brand' or 'son of the dark one,' evoking toughness through actor Charles Bronson — the legendary tough guy of 1970s action films.

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningSon of Brand; from the Old English personal name Brun/Brand (dark, brown) + -son

U.S. rank (2025)#1046 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births211 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2015

Total births (all-time)≈ 10,689

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Bronson is an English patronymic surname meaning 'son of Brun' or 'son of Brand,' from Old English brun (dark, brown) or brand (sword, fire). As a given name it is modern, driven primarily by the cultural impact of Charles Bronson.

Bronson entered U.S. boys' charts as a tough, masculine surname name. It ranked #1035 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? Charles Bronson (1921–2003) was born Charles Dennis Buchinsky — he adopted the stage name Bronson reportedly from Bronson Avenue in Los Angeles. His Death Wish (1974) became a defining movie of 1970s vigilante cinema.

Overall data confidence 82%

Behind the Name — Bronson — Old English etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

BronsenBransen

Nicknames

Bron

Famous Bearers

★Charles Bronson (1921–2003)
American actor known for the Death Wish series (1974–1994) and The Great Escape (1963), a defining tough-guy star of 1970s cinema.

If you like Bronson…

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Grayson— two-syllable -son name with the same modern American feel

Emerson— three-syllable -son literary surname in the same surname-name category

Explore names like Bronson

By themeenglish two-syllable surname-style patronymic celebrity-name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Bronson mean?

Bronson means 'son of Brand' or 'son of the dark one,' from Old English brun (dark, brown) and -son.

How do you pronounce Bronson?

It's said BRON-sun — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Bronson a boy or girl name?

Bronson is used as a boys' name.

How popular is Bronson?

Bronson ranked #1035 for U.S. boys in 2024.