Total births
1,106
Boys' name · since 1958
Bretton
Since 1958, U.S. Social Security records show 1,106 babies named Bretton, peaking in 1987. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #11132
- among boys today
- 1,106
- born since 1958
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 22%
- more common than other boys
Bretton currently ranks #11132 among boys' names in America, with 1,106 babies recorded since 1958.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Bretton has been recorded 1,106 times among boys since 1958, currently ranked #11132 nationally and more common than 22% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 1990s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1958 to 2025.
- #11132 among boys today
- 1,106 born since 1958
- 1990s peak decade
- 22% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Bretton is currently the #11132 boys' name in America, more common than 22% of boys - 1,106 born since 1958, peaking in the 1990s.
- #11132
- among boys today
- 1,106
- born since 1958
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 22%
- more common than other boys
Bretton vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#11132
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 22% of names given to boys today.
1990s
Peak decade
25% of everyone ever named Bretton was born in this single decade.
1987
Single peak year
36 babies were named Bretton in 1987 - its busiest year on record.
How Bretton compares
1,106 Top 29% higher than 71% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Bretton's all-time total is 3x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Bretton | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,106 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 36 | 23 | 22,252 |
Bretton's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Bretton splits its recorded history at 1993: 54% of all births land in the more recent half, 46% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1965 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1987 peak of 36 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Bretton at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1987
Current rank
#11,132
Active since
1958
Bretton popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1958–2025
- Peak year (1987)
- 36
- Annual births at peak, across 68 years of records
Bretton by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1990s was Bretton's strongest decade.
282 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 25% of all-time use.
Bretton births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1950s 19
1950s
19 births
- 1960s 65
1960s
65 births
- 1970s
1970s
124 births
- 1980s
1980s
217 births
- 1990s
1990s
282 births
- 2000s
2000s
174 births
- 2010s
2010s
173 births
- 2020s 52
2020s
52 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 282 births (25% of all-time use).
How Bretton compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Bretton's total volume
Bretton vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Bretton by state
Where Bretton concentrates geographically, total births since 1958
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 19 | 1.7% |
| #2 | Michigan | | 11 | 1.0% |
California share of Bretton's total US births 1.7%
Even split
19 of 1,106 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Bretton? ▼
Since 1958, Social Security records show 1,106 babies named Bretton. Today it holds rank #11132 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 1987, with 36 births.
When was Bretton most popular? ▼
Bretton was most popular in the 1990s decade with 282 total births. The single peak year was 1987.
Where is Bretton most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Bretton are California (19 births), Michigan (11 births).
How long has the name Bretton been used? ▼
Bretton has been recorded in Social Security data since 1958, spanning 68 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Bretton? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Brett, Brent, Brendan, Brennan, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Bretton's data
- Bretton's decade-level peak was the 1990s (282 total births); usage has since declined to 52 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Brettons (19 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Bretton
Nearby Names Like Bretton
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Bretton
Brett Boy
#1059 159,109 births
Brent Boy
#1653 139,799 births
Brendan Boy
#1010 91,816 births
Brennan Boy
#1058 33,258 births
Bret Boy
#4734 29,819 births
Compare Bretton side by side: Bretton vs Brett Bretton vs Brent Bretton vs Brendan
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Bretton
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1958–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Bretton: #11132 Boys' Name - 1,106 Births, Peak 1987." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/bretton. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Bretton draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.