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Obrien
Pronounced oh-BRY-in /oʊˈbraɪən/Medium
Meaning: Obrien is the Irish surname O'Brien written as one word and used as a given name. O'Brien means descendant of Brian, a name often read as high, noble or strong, borne by the high king Brian Boru.Low
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
Obrien is the famous Irish surname O'Brien set down as a single-word first name, a common way American families honored an Irish line. The surname means descendant of Brian, the name of the high king Brian Boru, and is usually glossed as high or noble.
As a given name it appeared across the twentieth century, cresting around the early nineteen-nineties. Given to only about twenty boys a year, an Obrien from that peak is now in his thirties.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- ★Brian Boru (941-1014)High king of Ireland and ancestor of the O'Brien family from which the surname descends.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Obrien mean?
It is the Irish surname O'Brien, meaning descendant of Brian, a name read as high or noble.
How do you pronounce Obrien?
It is said oh-BRY-in /oʊˈbraɪən/, three syllables like O'Brien.
Is Obrien a boy or girl name?
Obrien is used as a boy's name.
How popular is Obrien?
It has always been rare in the United States, given to only about twenty boys a year at its peak in the early nineteen-nineties.