Bruno
Say it: BROO-noh
BoyMeans brown5 letters2 syllables
#577
in Ireland (2025)
#552 with spellings combined
5
babies in 2025
#237
best rank (2023)
212
babies since 2005
Down 223
10-year rank change
Bruno through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | #552 |
| 2024 | 13 | #293 |
| 2023 | 18 | #237 |
| 2022 | 15 | #285 |
| 2021 | 15 | #285 |
| 2020 | 9 | #391 |
| 2019 | 13 | #311 |
| 2018 | 8 | #411 |
| 2017 | 11 | #356 |
| 2016 | 19 | #254 |
| 2015 | 13 | #329 |
| 2014 | 6 | #508 |
| 2013 | 13 | #317 |
| 2012 | 11 | #354 |
| 2011 | 7 | #455 |
| 2010 | 6 | #491 |
| 2009 | 12 | #322 |
| 2008 | 7 | #444 |
| 2007 | 3 | #629 |
| 2006 | 4 | #492 |
| 2005 | 4 | #448 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Bruno mean?
Brown
Germanic brun (brown), in a Latin form used by medieval saints and nobles.
Say it right
BROOnoh
The story of Bruno
Bruno comes from the old Germanic word brun, meaning brown, the same word that gives English its own “brown”. In the Middle Ages it was used in a Latin form by German and Italian saints and nobles. The best known is St Bruno of Cologne, who founded the Carthusian order of monks in the eleventh century. In old folk tales Bruno was also a name for the bear.
Today it is used in many languages, including Italian, German and Portuguese.
Bruno first appears in the CSO records in 2005. It had the most babies in 2016, with 19, and its best rank was number 237 in 2023. It had a quieter year in 2025, with 5 boys. In Northern Ireland it is rare, with three boys given the name in 2025.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Bruno (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Bruno (name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Bruno | 5 | 212 |
In Northern Ireland
#395 in 2025 with 3 babies. Best rank #395 (2025); 9 babies since 2015.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.