Declining since 2013, #1,867 for boys today.
Popularity of Brighton since 1983
Babies named Brighton per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 21 | 27 |
| 1990s | 132 | 239 |
| 2000s | 408 | 865 |
| 2010s | 1,005 | 1,312 |
| 2020s | 582 | 570 |
Meaning & origin
Brighton is a place-name adopted as a given name, following the trend of using English city and town names like London and Brooklyn. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1983 and reached its peak popularity in 2012, though it has been falling in use since 2013. As of 2025, it ranks 1867th overall, with about 1 in 20,334 babies receiving the name. Brighton is most common in Utah, Kansas, and Florida. While it has been used for both boys and girls, its trajectory shows a clear shift toward feminine usage over the past decade. The name lacks deep historical roots as a personal name, but its fresh, upbeat sound and association with a fashionable seaside city have kept it in circulation.
Brighton originates as a place name, taken directly from the city in England. The city's name derives from the Old English personal name Beorhthelm combined with tun, meaning "enclosure" or "settlement." Brighton has been used as a given name since the late 20th century, likely inspired by the popularity of other place names and the fashionable -ton suffix. It gained some recognition through the character Brighton on the television series "Hannah Montana" (2006-2011).
Where Brighton 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
Nicknames: Bri, Bright
Sibling names for Brighton
Names that share Brighton's style, for a brother or sister.
