Declining since 1986, #4,857 for boys today.
Popularity of Bret since 1926
Babies named Bret per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1920s | 5 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 133 |
| 1950s | 3,963 |
| 1960s | 8,415 |
| 1970s | 5,536 |
| 1980s | 5,581 |
| 1990s | 4,007 |
| 2000s | 1,618 |
| 2010s | 431 |
| 2020s | 130 |
Meaning & origin
Bret is a masculine name of English and French origin, derived from the Old French 'Bret' meaning 'a Breton' or 'a Briton.' It is a variant of the more common spelling Brett. First recorded in U.S. data in 1926, Bret saw its peak popularity in 1959, likely influenced by cultural figures such as actors or athletes. Since 1986, its usage has steadily declined, and in 2025 it ranked 4,857th, with approximately one in 85,404 boys receiving the name. While it did not crack the top states in recent years, Bret remains a recognizable, concise choice that shares stylistic ground with mid-century names like Blake and Chad.
Bret is a short form of the name Brett, which is of English and French origin, derived from the Old French Bret, meaning 'a Breton' or 'a Briton.' It originally referred to someone from Brittany or, more broadly, a native of Britain. The name has been used as a given name since the 20th century, gaining modest popularity in the mid-1900s.
Where Bret is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Brett
Sibling names for Bret
Names that share Bret's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Bret
Names whose popularity has moved with Bret's over the last 50 years.
